Vol. 435 No. 3
55 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether it is necessary for those who have completed FÁS or social employment schemes to remain in receipt of unemployment assistance or benefit for a lengthy period before being considered for further participation in such schemes; and if so, if there is any proposal to amend this provision.
The social employment scheme provides for participation of long term unemployed persons for one year. The objective is to give opportunities for participation to as many people as possible within the resources available.
Persons who have participated in the scheme are generally not considered for re-entry to the scheme for one year. However, selective re-entry is permitted after a six month break in cases where other eligible suitable participants cannot be readily located.
I am looking generally at the whole concept of social employment schemes with a view to seeing whether and how they might be improved. I would hope to have this examination completed in the near future.
