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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Helen Keogh

Question:

37 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the exclusion of certain categories of social welfare recipients, particularly women, from participation in community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3387/95]

Community employment is the principal manpower intervention aimed at the long-term unemployed. It is directed at persons who are either 21 years of age or over and in receipt of unemployment assistance or persons of any age 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 eligible to participate.

The lone parent category has recently been extended so that persons with children in receipt of deserted wife's benefit or survivor's contributory pension who opt for and are awarded a means tested social welfare payment are also eligible to participate in the programme. Any person, male or female, who satisfies any of the specified eligibility criteria can participate in the programme.
I have no plans to change the eligibility conditions as, with limited resources, it is not possible to provide opportunities for all unemployed persons.However, I would advise the Deputy that there are no eligibility 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 or for participation on mainline FÁS training courses although priority for mainline courses is given to persons on the live register.
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