asked the Minister for Labour the total allocation for the social employment scheme in 1985 and 1986; and the expenditure on the scheme in 1985.
Written Answers - Social Employment Scheme.
67.
A sum of £29,496,000 was allocated for the social employment scheme in 1985. The allocation for 1986 is £44,900,000.
Expenditure on the scheme in 1985 amounted to £7,253,716. The difference between the allocation for 1985 and expenditure is attributable to a number of factors, including time-lags in formulating and starting projects and delays in submitting claims for payments by sponsors.
68.
asked the Minister for Labour if persons over 25 years of age signing on for more than one year for small farmer's unemployment assistance qualify for employment under the social employment scheme.
Participation in the social employment scheme was confined to persons over 25 years of age who had been unemployed for more than one year and who were in receipt of unemployment assistance.
I am waiving the requirement in relation to the one year qualifying period. As a result, all persons, including small farmers, in receipt of unemployment assistance and over 25 years of age are eligible to participate in the social employment scheme.
69.
asked the Minister for Labour the moneys which have been allocated for the environment scheme at the Glen, Newfoundwell, Drogheda, County Louth; the plans his Department have to allocate further funds so that this important development can be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An amount of £55,692 was allocated under the social employment scheme for the operation of the environmental scheme at the Glen, Newfoundwell, Drogheda, over a six month period.
The sponsors of the project, Drogheda Corporation, recently sought approval to recruit additional workers and to have the project extended for a further six months. This approval has now been given and the additional financial allocation, which includes provision for wages, supervision and materials, amounts to £11,384.
I am very pleased with progress on the project at the Glen, Drogheda, and I hope that other groups will follow the example being set by the sponsors in this case.