asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the present anomaly whereby some men are debarred from participation in social employment schemes because their wives are working and their earnings disqualify the husbands from entitlement to unemployment assistance and the action he proposes to take in this matter.
Written Answers. - Social Employment Scheme.
180.
One of the considerations in establishing the social employment scheme was to limit the additional cost to the Exchequer. In the circumstances, the eligibility criteria limited participation to those (i) over 25 years of age, (ii) unemployed for at least one year and; (iii) in receipt of unemployment assistance payments at the time of entry into the scheme.
Allowing persons not in receipt of unemployment assistance to participate in the social employment scheme would not achieve the savings to the Exchequer necessary to make the scheme financially attractive.