asked the Minister for Labour whether the social employment scheme is now being operated by every local authority in the country; if not, the areas in which the scheme is not being operated; in respect of each such area, the reasons the scheme is not operating; and the steps he has taken or will take to extend the scheme to these areas.
Written Answers. - Social Employment Scheme.
25.
The Social Employment scheme is currently in operation in approximately 40 local authorities including Urban District Councils. The reasons for the scheme's non-operation in other local authorities are diverse; for example, in some cases a body may not have applied and in others local issues such as industrial action may have prevented the operation of projects. In addition, because of financial constraints, I understand that FÁS have had to operate a quota system for each region which may lead to deferment of certain applications.
I am aware that the approval of new Social Employment scheme projects in some local authorities has been deferred in certain cases at the instigation of the trade unions where a guarantee has not been given by the local authority that there will be no lay-offs or redundancies in 1988. I have had discussions with the trade unions about this problem and I also understand that the Minister for the Environment has had discussions with local authority managers. I hope that the problem can be speedily resolved to ensure that long-term unemployed people in certain areas are not deprived of their chance to re-enter the active labour market.