Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

John Gormley

Question:

75 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the consideration, if any, being given to changing qualifying criteria for participation in community employment and job initiative schemes. [7617/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

The community employment programme is the largest labour market reintegration programme in Ireland with an average of 41,000 places made available this year. A total of 11,000 of these places are specifically reserved for those over 35 years and more than three years unemployed, with the remaining 30,000 places, available for those over 21 years of age and at least one year unemployed.

The programme has been in existence since 1994, and in 1996 was set up in its present configuration to focus in a more targeted way on the long-term unemployed and other persons at most remove from the labour market.

Two years on, a full review of the programme is now timely. On foot of a tendering process Deloitte and Touche have been appointed to evaluate the programme in terms of meeting its objectives, to consider its efficacy in the light of current and evolving labour market conditions and to make proposals to improve the programme within existing resources. That review should be completed by June of this year and its conclusions should inform any further policy development on community employment.

The Jobs initiative is a pilot programme targeted at those over 35 years and more than five years unemployed. Given that the programme has only been in existence since October 1996 and that it is a pilot programme, any change in the criteria under which it operates can be considered after an evaluation of the pilot phase. It is planned that such an evaluation will take place later on this year.