Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Nov 1994

Vol. 447 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Eligibility for Return to Work Schemes.

Liz McManus

Question:

6 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to remedy the discriminatory situation wherein long term unemployed women who have been absent from the workforce while they reared their children and who now wish to return to the workforce through FÁS community employment or other return to work schemes cannot do so in view of the fact that they are not permitted to sign for credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3651/94]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

Community employment is geared towards persons who are either 21 years of age or over and in receipt of unemployment assistance or who are in receipt of unemployment benefit or lone parent's allowance for over one year. In addition, persons registered with the National Rehabilitation Board are also eligible to participate.

The rationale is that expenditure on the programme is partially offset by savings in social welfare payments. Persons signing for credits are not in fact eligible to participate in the programme and I have no plans to change this as with limited resources it is not possible to provide opportunities for all unemployed persons. However, it should be noted that there are no live register criteria for participation in FÁS return to work training courses which are specifically directed at persons who have been absent from the workforce for some time.