Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 11 May 2000

Vol. 163 No. 5

Adjournment Matter. - Job Initiative.

Mr. Costello

I am concerned to ensure that workers on the whole-time jobs initiative in the north inner city are retained in their current employment pending alternative employment becoming available. The whole-time jobs initiative was a worthwhile initiative where 1,000 people over 35 years of age were given the opportunity to move from community employment schemes into whole-time, essential social and voluntary work required in the community. It has proved very satisfactory, especially in disadvantaged communities. The difficulty in such areas is moving from the whole-time or part-time situation into permanent employment. The new deadline in June established by the Minister will give rise to difficulties for people on the whole-time initiative. I am sure this is the case throughout the country but this is the one of which I have most experience. Some 30 to 40 people will find themselves on the dole as a result of the termination of the whole-time jobs initiative.

We all welcomed this initiative as a great idea and people have been enthusiastic about it. That is why I tabled this matter requesting the Minister to examine the matter carefully. I am sure the last thing she wants is people going back on the live register. That is not helpful to anyone. As time goes by and with the economy doing well rather than regressing, the people on the initiative should at least be allowed to stay where they are until employment becomes available in their area and they can move on, as many people in the area have done. Many people have been able to access full-time employment but others have not.

The deadline of 31 June is the problem. It is a rigid deadline and some will not be able to meet it. What are the Minister's intentions if, for example, a number of people are not in employment at that stage? What will happen? Will the Minister consider extending the deadline for certain disadvantaged areas? What is the future of the whole-time initiative? I understand the Deloitte & Touche report provided for a more gradual approach to the matter to ensure there was not a regression in this successful scheme.

I am anxious that a good initiative which received an enthusiastic response be retained and developed. Most people are anxious to move on to permanent, full-time employment. Some, through damaging factors at earlier stages of their education and development, will never be in a position to progress to a career in a normal professional fashion. Part-time work or a whole-time initiative in the community dealing with a voluntary or community situation is probably ideal and necessary for the well-being of the community. A number of complex factors are involved. I want to know the Minister's thinking, especially regarding what will happen in the north inner city, before it is too close to the deadline to do anything.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

The job initiative programme is a three year work experience programme for persons who have been unemployed for five years or longer. The programme is available to persons over 35 years of age who are in receipt of either unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit or one parent family payment. The fundamental objective of the programme is to progress participants into mainstream employment.

The first phase of participants have completed their term on this programme and are now availing of a six month extension to address any further training or development needs they may have. This extension period also provides an opportunity for the local employment service to engage more actively with job initiative participants to facilitate their progression to employment in the open labour market.

The recent review of the operation of the job initiative programme by Deloitte & Touche recommended that the eligibility criteria for the programme remain unchanged. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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.

Arising from the consultants' review, the programme will have increased emphasis on progression to employment in the open labour market. However, there is a need for flexibility in defining what constitutes progression and the pace at which it can occur. Different options will be appropriate depending on individual circum stances. Therefore, as recommended by the consultants, it is likely that some roll-over will be necessary to facilitate overall progression while ensuring that new persons who are distanced from the labour market continue to have every opportunity to participate on the programme.

An average of 2,500 people throughout the various partnership areas are expected to participate in the programme in 2000. Some 600 participants will leave the programme this year, including 450 people at the end of June. It is worth emphasising in this regard that it is intended that no participant leaving this programme will be allowed to drift back into exclusion. Every effort will be made by the employment service to ensure that each person who has completed this programme and who has not yet received an employment offer in the open labour market will receive personal guidance from a specific employment service case officer. The task of the officer will be to enhance and progress the individual's employment prospects.

Completion of the process of consultations with the social partners and interested parties on the consultants' recommendations has been delayed pending consideration by my Department of issues concerning the implications of the Redundancy Payments Acts for the operation of the job initiative. I hope these consultations can be concluded very shortly, enabling guidelines to be issued on the future operation of this programme at an early date, as I am aware of the need for clarification for sponsors involved with the programme. A meeting with the social partners is expected to be convened on 22 May for this purpose.

A number of recommendations by the consultants have already been implemented. Participants from phase 1 of this programme who were due to complete their three years at the end of December last were given a six months extension to the end of June 2000 to enable them, with the more active involvement of the local employment service, to seek employment in the open labour market. Direct entitlement to secondary benefits has been extended to J1 participants from 6 April 1999. Entitlement to the back to work allowance – retention of social welfare payments for three years – was implemented from 7 December last.

The consultants have also recommended the development of a high support programme on a pilot basis to meet the needs of those most distanced from the labour market and who, for reasons relating to age, health and numeracy difficulties, are unlikely ever to work in a competitive environment. A study of this area of need will be undertaken by my Department as soon as possible for discussion with the social partners as provided for under Framework IV of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

I trust this puts the matter in context for the Senator and we will take on board the sentiments he has expressed. We are very pleased with the progress of the initiative to date.

Mr. Costello

My question was very specific and related to the need to ensure the workers in the whole-time jobs initiative in the north inner city would be allowed to be retained in current employment pending alternative employment becoming available. The Minister of State did not address that. He gave the broad context, but can he answer that specific question?

Mr. Treacy

I am addressing the specific in the context of the general. Everybody will be treated the same. All workers will be assessed and consultations are going ahead. We will review the programme at the end of the period and if we can accommodate people we will. However, consultations are ongoing. We cannot single out one area and treat another differently. We must ensure there is equity in the system. We are pleased with the initiative and, with the huge amount of jobs now available, we hope people will find alternative and reasonably regular employment and if not, we hope to be able to accommodate them.

The Seanad adjourned at 5.05 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 12 May 2000.