Vol. 519 No. 5
100 Mr. U. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will reconsider her plans, as a result of the serious problems created by her decision, to restrict conditions and regulations for community employment entrants, and if her attention has been drawn to the damage to community efforts to improve facilities and provide very essential help and support to support groups to the disadvantaged arising from her decision. [14372/00]
The Government decision of 21 July 1999 to restructure the community employment programme was taken following a detailed review of the programme by Deloitte & Touche, consultants, and subsequent consultations on the recommendations with the social partners and other interest groups. I have no plans in the short-term to make any further adjustments to the programme.
The standing committee on the labour market, as envisaged under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, will consider the issue of mainstreaming essential services currently provided by community employment participants. It is anticipated that these discussions will take into account the implications of the reduction in places provided on the programme for the provision of services by community groups. This committee will also address the issue of identifying appropriate supports for persons unlikely to succeed in getting, or keeping, a job in the open labour market. The work of this committee will help shape the future policy direction for employment programmes such as community employment and the jobs initiative programme.
It is also worthwhile noting that the new social economy programme which will be operational this year and will provide for an average of 670 places in 2000 will have a specific emphasis on the provision services to disadvantaged communities.
101 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation in relation to a person signing for credits where such a person qualifies for a community employment scheme; if this can be allowed where the sponsor of a scheme is having difficulty getting qualified persons for the scheme such as classroom assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14457/00]
The community employment programme is a labour market intervention measure targeted at the long-term unemployed. Eligibility for CE is confined to persons who are unemployed and in receipt of a payment in respect of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, qualified adults, one parent family payment or widows-widowers pension for a minimum period of 12 months. Persons in receipt of a disability payment who obtain approval from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature can also participate in the programme. A person signing for credits is not eligible to participate in CE.
The present eligibility criteria for the programme were drawn up after a full review of CE was undertaken and in consultation with the social partners. It is designed to better target the programme at the most disadvantaged of society.
