Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 5

Written Answers. - Family Support Services.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

27 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the steps, if any, taken to ensure a strong family dimension in schemes encouraging unemployed people to return to work to strengthen the position of both parents as role models for children. [6409/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Our Action Programme for the Millennium aims to ensure that we develop an inclusive society where everyone is given the opportunity and the incentive to participate in the workforce and to share in the benefits of our economic growth. We are giving effect to that commitment through the continued development and enhancement of the social welfare system.

As the Deputy will be aware, access to all social welfare schemes and services is available equally to men and women. It is open to any unemployed person therefore to avail of the range of back-to-work and back-to-education schemes provided by my Department, subject to meeting the general qualifying conditions.

These schemes are designed to provide real supports to people wishing to re-enter the active labour market or to take up educational opportunities with a view to increasing their employability and enhancing self-esteem.

On a wider level, the Deputy may be aware that, in accordance with a commitment given in Partnership 2000, a working group has been established to review the question of access by women to labour market opportunities with a view to improving gender equity.

The working group is chaired by my Department and includes representatives from the National Women's Council of Ireland, the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, the Irish Farmer's Association, the Congress Centres for the Unemployed, FÁS, the Employment Equality Agency, Aontas and relevant Government Departments. I expect that the report of the group will be completed later this year.