Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 1

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Noel Ahern

Question:

125 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the inequality of present regulations whereby some people or some categories on FÁS community employment schemes are allowed to retain their social welfare payments in addition to FÁS payments; her views on whether this is fair and just; if she will give details of the original decision and thinking which allowed this; and if she will change the present system and remove or reduce the extra payments which some categories receive to the exclusion of others. [3730/00]

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

The point raised by the Deputy concerning the inequality of treatment of certain categories of participants on community employment is one which has concerned me and my Department for some time. This issue was addressed in the report of the working group examining the treatment of married, cohabiting and one-parent families under the tax and social welfare codes. The group considered a number of options for reforming the manner in which lone parents participating in CE are treated vis-à-vis other participants. However, they did not arrive at an agreed approach.

The one parent family payment was introduced in 1997 by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and allows claimants earn up to £115.38 per week without affecting their social welfare entitlement. This means-tested payment recognises that lone parents often face particular difficulties and costs, especially for child care, in trying to access training or the labour market. When combined, CE earnings and the OPFP does give lone parents a financial advantage over other welfare recipients participating in the CE programme.

The Employment Equality Act prohibits my Department from taking any action in respect of programmes such as CE that would be seen as discriminating against categories of individuals on the grounds of marital status and I do not propose to make any changes to the present system of CE payments.

I am aware that the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is currently reviewing the OPFP and may deal with the impact of OPFP on CE participation. I await the outcome of this review with interest.