Jim Mitchell
Ceist:8 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the present level of activity under the Teamwork scheme and on the future of the scheme.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Teamwork Scheme.
Teamwork will provide approximately 1,150 man years activity for about 1,900 young people in 1990. As assistance from the European Social Fund is no longer available for the scheme, Exchequer funds have been provided to enable it to continue at its 1989 level of activity.
How many of the 1,150 Teamwork man years have been approved by his Department and how many schemes are awaiting approval now or later in the year? When are further approvals likely to be given?
As I have said, because of changes in the European Structural and Social Funds, the Exchequer is paying the full cost, £4.6 million. A lot of the Teamwork schemes which cater for people under 25 years of age are in the health care area and they continually come up for renewal. FÁS have been endeavouring to give an opportunity to some new schemes and this has given rise to difficulty in that those involved in schemes that have been renewed for the last three, four or five years have been told they will have to seek other means of funding. I am not sure which schemes are concerned but the queries that have arisen recently relate to that fact. If the Deputy has any particular schemes in mind I will undertake to have them checked by FÁS.