Vol. 435 No. 9
166 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has under the FÁS enterprise allowance scheme to extend it from its current duration of 40 weeks of benefit to at least 52 weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
167 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if, in relation to the FÁS enterprise allowance scheme, he will give the plans, if any, he has to change the stipulation whereby a person must be on the live register for at least 13 weeks, in view of the fact that this militates against those who have been made redundant, and also against women who have been out of the work-force for a number of years and are seeking reentry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
168 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if, in relation to the enterprise allowance scheme, he will give the plans, if any, he has to increase the level of support to keep it in line with the level of unemployment assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167 and 168 together.
The terms of eligibility, level of allowances and other operating conditions of the FÁS enterprise scheme are determined on the basis of seeking the optimum balance between the resources available and the desire to facilitate the maximum number of persons who may benefit from participation in the scheme. This invitably means some limitations on both the level and extent of the support that can be given and on the categories of persons who can participate.
