Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Scheme.

Willie O'Dea

Question:

273 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will change the criteria for married women to qualify for participation in community employment schemes to ensure that married women will no longer have to qualify for unemployment assistance in order to qualify for these schemes. [9682/97]

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

The community employment programme is targeted at a particular severely disadvantaged group of unemployed people, i.e. those registered long-term unemployed whose principal or only source of income is a social welfare payment. Limited resources, unfortunately, do not make it possible to provide CE for all unemployed people. It is necessary, therefore, to target the programme at those most in need. The eligibility criteria for CE is in my view a fair, objective and cost effective way of achieving that target.

CE consists of two distinct options — the integration option and the part-time job option. Both men and women, married or single who fulfil any of the following eligibility criteria can participate on CE:

Part-Time Integration Option

— Those aged 21 years or over and on unemployment benefit (UB), unemployment assistance (UA) or one parent family payment (OPFP) for at least 12 months

— Special categories such as those referred by the NRB, or travellers on the live register, or on one parent family payment (OPFP) for at least 12 months.

Part-Time Job Option

— Those aged 35 years or over and in receipt of unemployment assistance (UA), unemployment benefit (UB) or one parent family payment (OPFP) for three years or longer.

— Special categories such as those referred to by the NRB who are aged 35 or over, or travellers who are on the live register or on one parent family payment (OPFP) for at least 12 months.

In addition, married unemployed people can swop their social welfare entitlement in order to qualify for participation on the programme. In this way, a married person who meets the eligibility criteria can transfer entitlement to his or her spouse, who is unemployed but not on the live register, in order for that person to qualify for participation on CE. Also, persons with children who are in receipt of survivor's contributory pension or deserted wives benefit can apply to transfer to one parent family payment in order to become eligible to participate in CE. These eligibility criteria only came into effect last year following a detailed review of CE and in response to the recommendations of the task force on long-term unemployment. They were designed to target the programme at those priority groups already referred to. I have no plans at present to widen the eligibility criteria. However, I do of course keep all programmes under constant scrutiny in so far as their objectives and effectiveness are concerned.

I should also point out that all unemployed people, including married women, are eligible to participate in FÁS mainstream training-specific skills training programmes. Also from time to time FÁS offer return to work courses for women who wish to return to the workforce.