Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - Community Employment Scheme.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

247 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether a person signing on at the labour exchange for PRSI credits but not receiving a payment from the source is regarded as being eligible to participate in the community employment scheme. [7245/96]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

248 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether people who are signing on for credits should be included on a quota basis or excluded from participation on community employment schemes. [7246/96]

Trevor Sargent

Question:

249 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether any person who had been signing for credits, but not in receipt of a payment from his Department has been recruited by the sponsor and approved by FÁS participation on community employment schemes; and, if so, the number of cases in the last three years for which records are available. [7247/96]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247, 248 and 249 together.

Community employment (CE) is designed primarily to prevent marginalisation among long-term unemployed persons, whose principal or only source of income is an unemployment compensation payment or lone parent's allowance. In addition other special categories who have been identified as having severe difficulties in obtaining mainstream employment such as those referred by the National Rehabilitation Board can also participate. From 15 April 1996 married unemployed persons will be allowed to swop their social welfare entitlements in order to qualify for participation on the programme.

As such those signing for credits are not an eligible category for participation on the programme. Given present resource constraints I have no plans to make any further changes to the eligibility criteria as to do so would be at the expense of those currently eligible.