asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline his intentions in relation to the work experience programme; the proposals, if any, he has to facilitate the transition of school leavers into the world of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Work Experience Programme.
24.
I have decided to suspend the work experience programme in its present form.
The work experience programme was, of course, one element in the transition from school to working life. A problem I have found with a number of initiatives taken over the years to assist school leavers in the transition from school to work is that many of those availing themselves of the initiatives were least in need of assistance. On the other hand, the majority of those needing assistance tended, for a number of reasons, to be excluded from these schemes. This problem was addressed, to a large extent, by the social guarantee process.
My colleague, the Minister for Education, and myself have been discussing what further can be done to assist those least able to make the transition from school to working on their own in recent weeks with a view to taking some further initiatives over and above the continuance of the social guarantee.
Will the Minister accept that at a time of high unemployment, when there are far more applicants than vacancies, a premium is placed on experience? The work experience programme provided young people with an opportunity to combat their lack of experience and to compete — if not as equals — then as less disadvantaged than they otherwise would have been in relation to older and more experienced job seekers. Will the Minister accept that this decision will make it ever harder for school leavers to break into the world of work?
The majority of people who succeeded in gaining employment under this scheme were those who had the leaving certificate and a percentage of them were graduates. Over two-thirds of those who secured places on the scheme had the leaving certificate or a higher qualification. The undisputed facts are that employers, instead of advertising in the newspapers for an individual, rang their Manpower office, were supplied with a worker paid for by the taxpayer for six months and then decided whether that person was suitable. It is my view and that of most people involved in the scheme that it was subsidising employers who intended to recruit workers anyway. That is a luxury which we cannot afford at this stage.
Will the Minister agree that for any existing vacancy there will be people coming forward with qualifications out of proportion to the job? Graduates are applying for positions that in the past would have been reserved for school leavers, people with high honours in their leaving certificate are applying for posts which in the past would have been booked for those with the intermediate certificate. The effect is that employers are in a position to choose and are likely to employ someone with experience. This means that the school leaver will have no opportunity to break out of the chicken and egg position of no experience, no work, no work, no experience.
The logic is correct but we are talking about the work experience programme. When employers wanted an employee they got one subsidised by the taxpayer. They did not have to pay that person for six months and if they liked him or her they paid the salary after that from their own resources. If they did not think the employee's performance was up to standard they let the person go and looked for another person under the scheme. At a time when I have difficulty in maintaining allowances for the travelling community and other courses for truly disadvantaged people, I am confident that employers will continue to take on new employees. A section of the people who use the work experience programme may be disadvantaged but well over two-thirds have a good educational background. A number of people may require assistance and they will be covered by the review I mentioned earlier.
I want to deal with the last remaining Priority Question in the name of Deputy Colley and time is running out.