Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 1997

Vol. 474 No. 3

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

232 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number and percentage of community employment scheme participants who obtained employment in the year following completion of their schemes; the plans, if any, he has to increase the linkages between community employment projects and conventional employers in the local communities; the proposals, if any, he has to further target the local employment service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2952/97]

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

Community employment (CE) is designed primarily to prevent marginalisation among long-term unemployed people whose principal or only source of income is a social welfare payment. 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.

As CE has only been in operation since April 1994 it is too early yet to evaluate the full impact of the programme. However, a preliminary sample survey of participants who left the programme in 1996, having completed their 12 months' participation period indicated that 29 per cent had found full-time employment; 20 per cent had found part-time employment; 7 per cent were self-employed; 10 per cent had entered full time education programmes of progressed to specific skills training programmes.

I should also point out that the ESRI undertook a survey last year of a sample of persons who completed FÁS programmes, including community employment — or its predecessor the social employment scheme — in April-July 1994. This survey showed that 36 per cent of the sample CE participants were in employment in 1996, some 14-26 months after completing the programme. This contrasts with surveys of previous periods when the percentage in employment was in the range of between 14-22 per cent.

These results are encouraging although there is by no means room for complacency and I can assure the Deputy that the programme will be subject to ongoing evaluation and assessment.

While links between individual projects and local employers is a matter for sponsors and FÁS, who have operational responsibility for the delivery of CE, I am aware that such linkages exist and are reinforced by the setting of placement targets by FÁS for sponsors.

The local employment service network is currently operating in 14 key areas around the country. Part of the services offered to the unemployed are referrals to FÁS for participation on community employment. The mediators involved in the local employment service are best positioned to assess the needs of individual clients.