asked the Minister for Labour the reasons people wishing to do advanced courses in AnCO are being precluded if they are not under 25 years of age; if he will make the necessary orders and legislative change to ensure that these people are not debarred from pursuing these courses; and if he will make a statement on this very serious situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - AnCO Advanced Courses.
1.
Because of changes in the European Social Fund guidelines assistance for training those over 25 who have been unemployed for less than one year has been curtailed. This means that the cost to the State of a training day for those over 25 unemployed for less than a year is twice the cost of a training day which would be assisted by the ESF. Given the severe budgetary constraints facing the Government, it is not possible, in these circumstances, to maintain the level of training for those over 25 unemployed for less than a year that obtained in 1985. The Government have, however, provided £1 million for enterprise training to AnCo in respect of such trainees.
I am conscious of the needs of the group in question for training and I am considering whether scope exists to assist them further during the remainder of 1986 and subsequent years. As regards those over 25 who are long term unemployed, ESF assistance is still available and participation on the alternance programme, which is the main training programme for the older long term unemployed, is being increased in 1986.
Is the Minister saying that those over 25 who are not a year unemployed cannot participate in these scheme due to the budgetary position?
I as saying that, in respect of some schemes, there is no ESF assistance for people who are unemployed for less than 12 months. For the time being access by those people to a certain number of schemes has been restricted. As I said in my reply, I am now looking at ways in which we can provide new access for such people having regard to the demands they have placed upon the system.
Would the Minister agree that this is very serious and that people over 25, in particular those between 30 and 45 years of age, find themselves with many responsibilities and find it very frustrating to be unemployed and in a position whereby they cannot participate in these courses? Can the Minister confirm whether or not ESF financial support is dependent on this Government providing equal amounts of resources for these courses here?
It is the other way around. I share the Deputy's concern and we are looking at ways to try to alleviate it. Guidelines operate as to the distribution of European Social Fund money. They were changed some time ago, a change which we resisted at the time, and which brought in this 12 months requirement for long term unemployed over the age of 25. We received 55 per cent funding for every training day provided for by AnCO in respect of those programmes which qualify for ESF funding. That is the balance of support. We do not qualify for support for such programmes for those who are less than 12 months unemployed. As I said, I am looking at ways in which the category of people to which Deputy Treacy referred can be properly accommodated by AnCO.
Would the Minister confirm that the amount of funds allocated to AnCO in 1986 was diminished in comparison to 1985 and previous years? Would he further confirm that AnCO were left an abnormally long period waiting for the exact budgetary amount which they would have for 1986? Is it due to this situation that this group of people over 25 are not now allowed participate in these schemes?
The Deputy is probably aware that there have been considerable difficulties in the operation of the European Social Fund because of a budgetary crisis within the EC of which the ESF in part has been a victim. Secondly, the decision to restrict access to training programmes for people who are less than 12 months unemployed was made in Brussels and not by us.
Did we oppose that?
We did, strenuously.
Was the AnCO budget reduced this year?
In real volume terms it is substantially the same as it was last year.
Was it reduced?
No.