Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Oct 1988

Vol. 383 No. 5

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Work Schemes Funding.

8.

asked the Minister for Labour the amount of money received or expected to be received by his Department from the European Social Fund for the community enterprise programme and graduate placement programme.

13.

asked the Minister for Labour the total amount of money his Department have received or expect to receive from the European Social Fund for the work experience programme and the employment incentive scheme.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 13 together. The total amount of money received by Ireland from the European Social Fund in 1988 up to the end of September was £91 million of which £46 million was in respect of FÁS programmes. A further £65 million is expected to be paid before the end of the year of which £31 million relates to FÁS programmes.

The breakdown of the FÁS receipts over the various programmes is a matter for FÁS and I would suggest, therefore, that the Deputy contact FÁS directly if he requires information on any individual scheme.

I understand that the employers show little or no interest in the graduate placement and work experience programmes. If that is the case, I should like the Minister to make a statement on the matter.

The work experience programme is not now in operation following the decision of the Government a year ago. The graduate placement scheme is still in operation but at a reduced level compared with previously.

Why is it at a reduced level? Is it because employers are showing little or no interest in this programme? That is the information that has been given to me. Some action should be taken and some incentives should be created for employers to participate fully in this programme.

I shall convey the Deputy's views to FÁS, because it is a matter for the day-to-day administration. The work experience programme, as I have said, has now gone and the take-up under the graduate placement scheme has not been high traditionally. I do not want to say that is the fault of anybody; it is the tradition.

Barr
Roinn