Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 6

Written Answers. - Social Employment Schemes.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

45 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether the provision of a training grant and the retention of secondary benefits should become a permanent feature of social employment schemes.

Enda Kenny

Question:

110 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether a Christmas bonus should be paid to workers living in designated areas only who are on community employment development programmes in the 12 local community based partnerships; whether such bonus should be based on an equality of work and not on a designated area of residence; if he will have arrangements made to change this anomaly in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 110 together.

The Community Employment Development Programme which incorporates a training element and retention of social welfare benefits by participants and a number of other measures was introduced on a pilot basis in the twelve partnership areas designated under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress strategy to combat long term unemployment. The pilots are currently being implemented for the twelve areas and strictly for long term unemployed people in these areas. The purpose of the measures as indicated in the Dáil by the Taoiseach on 7 October, 1992, is to reduce some of the disincentive effects which attach to the removal of welfare benefits from persons in the areas and categories in question when they obtain employment or take up a training or employment scheme opportunity.

The operation of the programme will be evaluated in due course to assess its effectiveness in assisting persons who are long term unemployed.