asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider the payment of a special allowance to parents, especially single parents, participating in FÁS courses, who have to pay crèche and child minding fees while they are attending the courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - FÁS Participants Special Allowance.
16.
There are no funds available to FÁS to pay the type of allowance sought by the Deputy.
Proinsias de Rossa
This question arose as a result of a specific case of a young woman who became a participant in a FÁS course who, because she has a child, must have it looked after in a crèche and pay for those crèche facilities. Would the Minister agree that it seems unreasonable that women in that position should be faced with a choice of losing income or not participating in the course? Would the Minister agree that the training centres should provide crèche facilities or that an allowance be made in respect of those who have the responsibility of caring for children?
The difficulty is that, if one were to provide that facility for one person, one would have to provide it for everybody. As the question pertains to single parents, I do not think that would be possible. The allocation to FÁS for the payment of training allowances does not permit payment of special childminding fees. Obviously the payment of such an allowance would be quite costly. Current financial restrictions would not permit FÁS to provide such a service.
Would the Minister not feel that FÁS should initiate a programme for the provision of crèche facilities? We are told that the reason for the existence of FÁS is to encourage people to upgrade their training and capacity to take up whatever jobs are available. Generally it is the responsibility of women in our society to care for children. Would the Minister agree that if we do not provide child care facilities for women, we are restricting their access to training?
Under the social employment scheme, FÁS provide a number of schemes in the city for minding children and elderly people. However, the link to a person going on a particular scheme cannot be provided.
Will the Minister discuss with FÁS whether it may be possible to provide one training centre on a pilot basis to identify the demand, the cost and the feasibilities? Is he prepared to explore that, even as a possibility?
Perhaps I will raise it under the social employment scheme because I know of at least one scheme in the north city which takes care of the children of women who are getting further education. However, I do not envisage crèches in training centres.
We will now deal with questions nominated for priority.