Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Employment Scheme Eligibility.

John Bruton

Question:

106 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the estimated additional cost of allowing those who are currently eligible for unemployment assistance but cannot claim it because of the income of a spouse to be eligible to participate in the social employment scheme; and if the exclusion from the scheme of those who are married to an employed person is equitable in view of the fact that persons who are cohabiting with an employed person will qualify because the means of the other cohabitee are not taken account in their case.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

The Social Employment Scheme is the principal manpower intervention aimed at persons who are long term unemployed. The specified eligibility conditions for the scheme are that participants must have been in receipt of unemployment benefit for one year or in receipt of unemployment assistance. This reflects the focus and targeting of the scheme. It also means that Exchequer expenditure on the scheme through the Vote of the Department of Enterprise and Employment is offset to a certain extent by savings on the Social Welfare Vote.

The conditions for receipt of unemployment assistance including the eligibility of a married woman or a person cohabiting for unemployment assistance are a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare.