Vol. 437 No. 6
32 Miss Quill asked the Taoiseach the number of people who are employed in community employment development programmes; the percentage of women workers currently engaged in these programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
At the end of December 1993, there were 5,383 persons participating on the Community Employment Development Programme of whom approximately 37 per cent were women.
The CEDP was introduced in line with the agreement between the Government and the social partners in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress as part of the pilot initiative to tackle long term unemployment. The essential difference between the CEDP and the SES is that the CEDP contains a structured training element, the programmes are carried out in partnership areas as part of an area action plan and participants retain entitlement to secondary social welfare benefits.
The Government has undertaken in the National Development Plan, 1994-1999, to expand the programme as a key element of the local development programme.
