Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Jul 1999

Vol. 507 No. 4

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Noel Ahern

Question:

53 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in relation to the eligibility of widows to participate in community enterprise schemes; and the current status of the review into this matter. [17145/99]

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

Community Employment is designed primarily to prevent marginalisation among long-term unemployed people whose principal or only source of income is an unemployment compensation payment or certain means tested social welfare payments. This targeting helps maximise the availability of places by part financing the programme from savings in social welfare payments. Widows in receipt of the one parent family payment which is a means tested payment are eligible to participate in CE. Widowed persons with children who are in receipt of survivors contributory pension have the option of transferring to one parent family payment in order to become eligible for CE.

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 increasing gender equity and improving job opportunities. This group is chaired by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs 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 Farmers Association, the Congress Centres for the Unemployed, FÁS, the Employment Equality Agency, Aontas and relevant Government Departments.

It is expected that the report of the group will be completed later this year. Any changes in eligibility criteria for admission to active labour market programmes will be made on foot of recommendations of this group.