Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.
Máirín Quill
Question:
19
Miss Quill
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
the average annual additional cost of maintaining a person on a community employment scheme over and above his/her basic entitlements in terms of unemployment compensations; the way in which this additional cost is made up; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19214/96]
Batt O'Keeffe
Question:
43
Mr. B. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
his views on the fact that married persons working in the home, not in receipt of any benefits, are barred from participating in community employment schemes; his further views on whether this discriminates against such persons; and if inequality exists within the framework of the scheme.
[18971/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 43 together.
With regard to the cost differential that exists between providing a place for an unemployed person on the programme and paying social welfare, the net cost of each place this year works out at approximately £2,962 per person and arises in respect of the following additional costs: (1) the difference between basic social welfare rates and the basic allowances available on CE e.g. weekly UA rate of £64.50 compared with the basic CE allowance of £83.75, (2) grants to sponsors to employ supervisors, (3) grants to sponsors for materials/overheads, (4) grants to sponsors and participants in respect of training/ development modules.
Community employment (EC) is designed primarily to prevent marginalisation among long-term unemployed people whose principal or only source of income is a social welfare payments. Its objective is to provide temporary work experience opportunities together with some training that would enhance the employment prospects of those at whom the programme is targeted.
With regard to specific provision for married persons who wish to return to the work force, FÁS from time to time offer return to work course and in addition all unemployed people are eligible to participate in FÁS mainline training/specific skills training programmes.
The present eligibility criteria for CE only came into effect earlier this year following a detailed review of CE and in response to the recommendations of the task force on long-term unemployment. Accordingly, I do not propose to widen the eligibility criteria further.
Both men and women (married or single) who fulfil any of the following criteria can now participate in the programme.
Part-Time Integration Option
— Those over 21 years and on unemployment benefit (UB) or unemployment assistance (UA) for at least 12 months
— Those over 21 years and on lone parent's allowance for over 12 months
— Special categories such as those referred by the NRB or travellers on the live register or on lone parent's allowance for at least 12 months.
Part-Time Job Option
— Those over 35 years and in receipt of unemployment assistance (UA) or unemployment benefit (UB) for over three years
— Those over 35 years and on lone parent's allowance for over three years
— Special categories such as those referred by the NRB who are over 35 years or travellers who are over 35 years and on the live register or on lone parent's allowance for at least 12 months.
Also married unemployed people can swap their social welfare entitlement to qualify for participation on the programme and persons with children who are in receipt of survivor's contributory pension (SCP) or deserted wive's benefit (DWB) can apply to revert to lone parent's allowance (LPA) and if awarded same, they would then be eligible to participate in CE.
