I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 110 together.
I do not have any plans for changing the new three year limit on participation in the community employment programme which is considered essential to address the previously identified pattern of repeated participation on the programme, rather than it being used as an active labour market measure encouraging transition to employment in the open labour market.
The following revised implementation guidelines have been agreed with FÁS following the restructuring of the programme approved by Government in July 1999: the eligibility age for participation has been raised from 21 years to 25 years with effect from 1 January 2000; the following exemptions will apply for persons under 25 years of age – Travellers, ex-offenders, refugees, people with disabilities, people referred under drugs task force, offshore island inhabitants, 18-24 year olds, referred through EAP, who are 18 months or more unemployed; duration of participant breaks between schemes to be increased from six to 12 months with effect from 3 April 2000; offshore island residents will be exempt from this change; future participation by an individual will be capped at three years with effect from 3 April 2000; an individual's previous participation on the programme will not be taken into account; offshore island residents will be exempt from this change; the number of places on the programme will be reduced over a five year period to 28,000. There will be synchronisation to the greatest degree possible between the introduction of the new social economy programme and reductions of community employment places; eligibility to participate in the programme has been extended to qualified adults and widow's-widower's with effect from 15 September 1999.
