asked the Minister for Labour the progress which has been made to date in implementing the special measures for unemployed in urban disadvantaged areas, promised in the Programme for Government 1989-1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Urban Disadvantaged Areas.
53.
The package of measures for employment creation announced by me on 27 September 1989 takes account of the Government's desire to initiate special measures in urban disadvantaged areas as outlined in the Programme for Government.
The measures in the package and details on the present position, where appropriate, are as follows: expansion of the social employment scheme whereby an extra 1,000 people will be recruited from urban disadvantaged areas over the next 12 months. Since end September, 356 people have joined the scheme from disadvantaged areas; provision of £500,000 from national lottery funds in 1990 to provide assistance towards the cost of materials for community youth training programme projects in urban disadvantaged areas. My Department are at present considering guidelines prepared by FÁS; establishment by FÁS on pilot basis of a special programme for older long-term unemployed who left school without qualifications. A number of training workshops are to be included in the pilot exercise in which 50 people will be catered for initially; a suitable curriculum is being prepared at present by FÁS; grants of up to £20,000 under the community enterprise programme towards the cost of establishing work-spaces in disadvantaged areas generally. My Department are considering guidelines prepared by FÁS and potential projects are being identified by FÁS; and FÁS to take a lead role in organising and encouraging community projects and in getting sponsors, etc, for Teamwork, SES, CYTP, etc, in the disadvantaged areas. FÁS are encouraging local groups to undertake projects by liaising with community leaders, promotiong projects through local media and giving resources for training in project management skills.
The package also included a number of other measures which will benefit disadvantaged persons generally including: payment of a training bonus of £10 per week to trainees with dependants; revamping and redirecting the employment incentive scheme towards the long-term unemployed, early school leavers and other disadvantaged persons and increasing the overall grant payable to employers to recruit additional workers.
The package also provided for a change in the payment system under the enterprise scheme whereby the weekly payment would be increased and paid over a shorter period in order to give greater assistance at the start up phase of the enterprise.
The training bonus and the increased payments under the enterprise scheme and the employment incentive scheme have been payable since 30 October 1989.
The Deputy will appreciate that the provision of more detailed information would be a day to day matter for FÁS.