Vol. 499 No. 3
126 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the eligibility of widows for community employment schemes; the reason this is not allowed; and if a change in policy is under consideration. [2479/99]
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. Widows in receipt of survivors' contributory pension can opt for a social assistance payment such as one parent family payment or unemployment assistance 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, including return to work courses which are specifically designed for persons who want to return to paid work after time spent working in the home.
The recent review of community employment by Deloitte & Touche did not make any recommendations regarding expansion of eligibility to participate in the programme. However, a Partnership 2000 working group, composed of all the social partners and chaired by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, is considering access by women to labour market opportunities. I have requested that access by widows to training and to jobs should be one of the issues considered by that group.
