asked the Minister for Labour if he now accepts that the social employment scheme has been a major failure and that the widespread marketing of the scheme was almost totally inadequate; and the amendments he proposes to make to the scheme to make it workable, acceptable and of benefit to the unemployed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Employment Scheme.
35.
The social employment scheme represents a positive Government response to the plight of the long term unemployed, particularly those over 25 years of age.
The scheme provides an opportunity for the large number of energetic and productive persons who fall into this category to play an active role in the social development of the community.
I am very satisfied with the progress of the scheme to date. At present there are almost 3,500 people employed on over 800 projects under the scheme. A further 1,400 projects with a potential for 5,300 jobs have been approved and the National Manpower Service are currently recruiting persons to fill these vacancies.
There is now a comprehensive programme of schemes designed to meet the needs of the unemployed. Experience has, however, shown that the general public is often unaware of the opportunities provided for the unemployed or, if aware, are unable to differentiate between the different programmes. I have, therefore, decided to launch a comprehensive publicity campaign in the case of all the employment schemes.
As in the case of other manpower programmes, I am keeping the operation of the social employment scheme under continuous review.
I thank the Minister for clarifying the position because last week the Taoiseach said in the House that over 9,000 people had taken up employment under this scheme. As we heard, the figure is 3,500 which is 6,500 short of the target. How many have been employed under this scheme in the Dublin city and county areas?
I was in the House when the Taoiseach made the speech to which the Deputy referred, I think it was on the first day the House resumed. Subject to checking the record, my understanding of what he said is in accordance with the information supplied to him which was that 9,000 jobs had been approved of which just over 3,000 had been filled——
That sounds like the IDA projection.
The matter is now with those bodies who applied for and got sanction to take on people. Sadly, in regard to Dublin city, the take up has been zero as far as the local authority are concerned. Dublin Corporation are the only local authority who have not yet availed of the schemes. The data I have are divided on a regional basis related to the operational areas of the National Manpower Service. The Dublin area, which includes Dún Laoghaire and Dublin County Council, has 196 projects which employed 682 people as of 25 October. On balance, two-thirds of the projects are local authority or public sector employers and one-third are private employers.