Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Seán Haughey

Question:

106 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself with the services offered by FÁS to married women wishing to return to the workforce; if she will ensure that they qualify for community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20397/99]

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

Any women wishing to return to the workforce can avail of the services of FÁS, either for employment placement or for training, and such supports can frequently be more appropriate than going into programmes such as CE. I am satisfied that through its action programme, Women in Focus, FÁS is ensuring that women have every opportunity to participate fully on FÁS programmes. More than half of the participants on the CE programme in 1998 were women and women accounted for 54 per cent of trainees on FÁS training programmes that year.

The community employment programme is designed to specifically target persons at most disadvantage in the labour market. As a result of the restructuring of the CE programme, approved by Government on 21 July 1999, married women classified as qualified adults, adult dependants of long-term unemployed persons are now eligible to participate in CE. I have no plans at present to further expand the eligibility conditions for married women for CE or associated programmes.