Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Employment Workers.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

105 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to adopt the Charter of Rights or some similar charter as proposed by the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed for workers on community employment schemes; and the views, if any, he has on the charter drafted by the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed. [9107/95]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

107 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the consideration, if any, he has given to the establishment of watchdog bodies in each FÁS region to which community employment workers could bring queries and grievances and which would represent FÁS as well as the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed. [9109/95]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 107 together.

FÁS in consultation with my Department, has been considering a number of ways to give FÁS clients a greater say in the organisation's programme-services and a decision in principle has been taken to establish a FÁS Users Council. Among the issues to be determined are whether the new arrangements should be centrally or regionally based and whether one set of arrangements would be appropriate given the diverse range of clients using FÁS services. In determining the most appropriate arrangements, account will be taken of the relevant recommendations in NESF Report No 6 "Quality Delivery of Social Services" and also of the INOU "Charter of Rights for CE participants".

Trevor Sargent

Question:

108 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will lay down guidelines for community employment schemes in order that workers will know the criteria and reasons that extensions are granted or not granted to schemes on which they are employed. [9110/95]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

The information leaflet for the Community Employment Programme as well as the guidelines made available to project sponsors set out the arrangements under which projects are included in the programme and the circumstances in which extensions may be granted to participants. These are supplemented by briefings held for sponsors as the need arises.

I will, however, draw your concerns in the matter to the attention of FÁS with a view to reaffirming the importance of making all such relevant information available to sponsors and participants.