Vol. 515 No. 1
79 Mr. U. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to remove the age limit for access to training, community employment and job initiative programmes in view of the fact that the present policy has serious consequences for a section in the community in greatest need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5426/00]
80 Mr. U. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to simplify and broaden the eligibility criteria for community employment and job initiative programmes so that people can access work in a dignified way; if she will abolish the requirement that an applicant must be in receipt of unemployment payments for 260 weeks or its equivalent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5427/00].
I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.
Community employment is a work experience programme targeted at persons 25 years of age or older and unemployed for a minimum period of one year. The current eligibility criteria were introduced in July 1999 following a detailed review of the programme and in response to the recommendations of the Deloitte & Touche, report.
The job initiative programme is targeted at the older long-term unemployed, that is, persons over 35 who have been unemployed for five years or longer. The recent report on the operation of the programme by Deloitte & Touche recommended that the eligibility criteria remain unchanged. My Department has consulted with the social partners on this issue and there is broad agreement that the focus of the programme on the older long-term unemployed should remain unchanged.
In general, it is desirable that programmes such as community employment and the job initiative have a specific focus as available resources must be targeted at those most in need. The majority of FÁS specific skills-mainstream training programmes have no restrictions with regard to age. Accordingly, I have no plans to change the eligibility criteria for the programmes for which I have responsibility.
