Vol. 438 No. 2
29 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in respect of the total number of persons on the live register, the number of persons in receipt of pre-retirement allowances and those on FÁS or social employment schemes, he will quantify the expected reduction in the total number of persons available for work but unable to avail of employment in the year ending 31 December 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
At 31 December 1993 the total number of people on the live register was 297,089. There were 15,882 people in receipt of the pre-retirement allowance and 47,722 people taking part in FÁS and social employment schemes.
It is estimated that the average live register figure for 1994 will be 289,000 as compared with an average figure of 294,000 for 1993, a reduction of 5,000.
The pre-retirement allowance scheme, which I introduced in 1990, is for people aged at least 55 years who are getting long term unemployment assistance and who regard themselves as retired from the workforce. Those who opt for the pre-retirement allowance no longer have to sign on the live register and are paid by a book of payable orders which can be cashed weekly at a post office of their choice. The number of recipients of the allowance is expected to rise by 300 to 16,200 in 1994.
