Vol. 455 No. 3
105 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to remove discrimination against married women, particularly where qualification for participation on social employment schemes is concerned. [12097/95]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the Community Employment Programme (CE).
Community Employment is the primary manpower intervention by the State in respect of the long term unemployed and other special categories who are experiencing difficulty in gaining a foothold in the labour market. Its purpose is to provide temporary work experience, together with some training, that would assist those concerned in obtaining mainstream employment.
Both men and women married or single who fulfil any of the following eligibility criteria can participate on the programme:— (1) persons in receipt of unemployment benefit — UB — for over 12 months or (2) persons in receipt of lone parents allowance — LPA — for over 12 months or (3) persons of 21 years or over in receipt of unemployment assistance — UA — or (4) persons referred by the National Rehabilitation Board.
The Task Force on Long-Term Unemployment is currently reviewing community employment. Any question of changing the eligibility criteria will be considered following this review.
