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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Apr 1987

Vol. 372 No. 2

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Youth Employment Levy.

3.

asked the Minister for Labour the implications for each of the manpower and training agencies of the decisions taken by the Government with regard to the allocation of the youth employment levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The 1987 allocations from the youth employment levy to the various Manpower agencies is as follows:

£million

AnCO

42,768

CERT

2,232

YEA

7,000

NMS

18,210

These allocations, together with the European Social Fund assistance they generate, will enable the Manpower agencies to provide the following levels of activity in 1987:

Projected training and employment man years for 1987:

AnCO

11,700

CERT

2,200

YEA

2,600

NMS

8,000

24,500

The Deputy will appreciate, however, that these figures are subject to change in the light of developments, including the budgetary or ESF position.

Would the Minister confirm that this is the first occasion on which the allocations have been made public? Would he accept that this is rather late in the day even allowing for the unusual circumstances of the general election and so on? Would he also confirm that the variations decided on by this Government as against what was proposed in January mean that average participation in a number of schemes will be down, in particular in the programmes run in conjunction with ACOT, in team work, the enterprise allowance scheme and a range of programmes which were run by the Youth Employment Agency? Does he not regard that as alarming?

First, the figures have been calculated following the budget introduced on 31 March, although normally these figures would be made out late in January after the budget. If the figures are slightly down under some of the headings, that is because they are in line with the allocation provided under the levy, the European Social Fund and Exchequer funding. The figure provided in this budget was exactly the same as that in the provisional budget.

Is the Minister aware of the concern felt in the manpower area generally about what seems to be a reduced emphasis on the question of self employment for young people? That is to be found in the reduced provision for the enterprise allowance scheme and what is seen as a withdrawal of support from the self employment programme for young people.

Throughout last year the take up expected in the estimated figure for the enterprise allowance scheme and the employment incentive scheme was less than envisaged. The figure is now in line with the take up for last year and if there was an improvement the figures could be looked at again but the figures produced here are based on reality.

Has the Minister remonstrated with his colleague, the Minister for Education, following her answer yesterday when she let the cat out of the bag by indicating that some teachers' salaries——

A question please, Deputy.

——are now to be paid from the youth employment levy? It appears that one of the decisions taken by the Government was to make an additional subvention for the public service——

I am still waiting for a supplementary question. I am calling Question No. 4.

With respect, this arises directly from the allocation.

The Deputy is imparting information rather than seeking it.

I am asking the Minister if he has had any discussions with his Cabinet colleague arising from the information she provided yesterday?

That is a separate question. I am calling Question No. 4.

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