Vol. 491 No. 6
74 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to extend the entitlement to participate in community employment schemes to widows who have no child dependants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12754/98]
Community Employment is an active labour market programme designed primarily to prevent marginalisation among long-term unemployed people whose principal or only source of income is an unemployment compensation payment or certain other means tested social welfare payments.
The present eligibility criteria for community employment came into effect only in 1996 following a detailed review of the programme and have become much more targeted on the long-term unemployed.
Persons in receipt of a widow's pension can opt for a social assistance payment on the basis of which, as jobseekers, they could establish eligibility to participate in community employment. The balance of advantage, however, usually lies with retention of the widow's pension. Widowed persons who wish to re-enter the labour force can apply to FÁS for an appropriate training course. A wide array of courses are available.
The community employment programme is currently being reviewed independently, by Deloitte and Touche, and it is my intention to consider closely the recommendations contained in this review from the perspective of eligibility criteria.
