Written Answers. - Community Employment Scheme.
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:
52
Éamon Ó Cuív
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
whether it is intended to make women who are in receipt of a deserted wife's benefit eligible to participate in community employment schemes in the interest of increasing access to employment and training to women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1095/97]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:
231
Cecilia Keaveney
asked the
Minister for Enterprise and Employment
if he will reconsider the current regulation which calls on widows to change their title to lone parent to make them eligible for participation in FÁS schemes; and if he will make a statement on the reason for such a regulation.
[2951/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 231 together.
Community Employment 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 whom the programme is targeted at.
As limited resources do not make it possible to provide CE for all long-term unemployed people it is necessary to target the programme at those most in need, such as persons in receipt of an unemployment compensation payment or persons in receipt of certain means tested social welfare payments. In line with this both men and women, married or single, who fulfil any of the following eligibility criteria can participate on CE.
Part-Time Integration Option
Those over 21 and on Unemployment Benefit or Unemployment Assistance for at least 12 months.
Those over 21 years on one parent family payment for over 12 months;
Special categories such as those referred by the NRB or travellers on the live register or one parent family payment for at least 12 months.
Part-Time Job Option
Those over 35 years and in receipt of Unemployment Assistance or Unemployment Benefit for over three years.
Those over 35 years and on one parent family payment 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 one parent family payment for at least 12 months.
Persons with children who are in receipt of survivor's contributory pension (SCP) or deserted wives benefit can apply to transfer to one parent family payment and if awarded this, they would then be eligible to participate in CE. In addition, married unemployed people can swop their social welfare entitlement in order to qualify for participation on the programme.
The present eligibility criteria for CE came into effect last year following a detailed review of the programme and in response to the recommendation of the task force on long-term unemployment and is designed to better target the programme at the most disadvantaged of long-term unemployed so that they may share in the benefits of economic growth along with other sectors of society.
Given that the programme is currently operating slightly above capacity level relative to available resources, any decision to widen the eligibility criteria to include additional categories would be at the expense of those priority groups for whom CE is designed. Accordingly I have no plans at present to widen the eligibility criteria.
With regard to FÁS mainstream training/specific skills training programmes I would point out that all unemployed people, including widows in receipt of a survivor's contributory pension and women in receipt of deserted wives benefit are eligible to participate in these programmes.
Also from time to time FÁS offer return to work courses for women who wish to return to the workforce.
