asked the Minister for Labour the methods of review in force regarding the various employment and training schemes under his Department; and if he has satisfied himself that each of these schemes is fulfilling the role for which it was designed.
Written Answers. - Employment and Training Schemes.
12.
In general the Department and the various Manpower agencies conduct evaluations of the various programmes to determine whether their objectives are being met in the most effective and efficient way. The methods used would include (1) in-house studies (2) reviews by external consultants such as ESRI and (3) analysis based on the data available from the administration of schemes.
Review and evaluation of programmes is carried out on a continuing basis. I believe that, in general, all current programmes are achieving their objectives. Evaluations often, however, can identify desirable shifts in emphasis and in conditions. For example, evaluation of the enterprise scheme led to modifications last December designed to improve the long term viability of projects and the reduction of the potential for displacement of non-subsidisied enterprises elsewhere in the locality.
13.
asked the Minister for Labour whether the same approach as the community programme of the Manpower Commission in Great Britain, which encourages projects which would lead to long term viable employment, should permeate the comparative Irish schemes such as Teamwork and the social employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand that the Community Programme of the Manpower Services Commission of Great Britain provides up to 52 weeks part time or full time employment to the long term unemployed. This gives the participants the opportunity to make new contacts, improve their job prospects and increase their work experience. This approach also underpins the comparable Irish schemes, that is Teamwork and the social employment scheme.
I also understand that very few of the UK projects are undertaken by commercial sponsors or have a commercial content — the bulk are in the environmental improvement/social services area. The same is true of the relevant Irish schemes.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, there are a wide range of other measures available in Ireland to assist the creation of self-sustaining employment including the enterprise and the employment incentive schemes operated by my Department.