Michael Finucane
Ceist:14 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Labour the number of participants on social employment schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Employment Schemes.
As of week ending 16 November 1990 there were 11,400 participants on the social employment scheme.
A significant number of people are participating in the social employment schemes. These are very laudable ventures and in many cases these people do meaningful community work. However, I am disappointed—no doubt the Minister is aware of this — that many of the people who participate in social employment schemes are in receipt of long term unemployment assistance and many of them depend on the extra subvention at Christmas which they got in the past. As we all know, Christmas is a very expensive time and I appeal to the Minister to have discussions with his colleague, the Minister for Social Welfare, to see if something can be done for these people.
I hesitate to interrupt the Deputy but this question is essentially statistical and matters appertaining to policy ought not to arise now. Please proceed by way of further questions.
I accept your ruling but I have no doubt that the Minister is very humane and he would like to respond to my question as we are approaching Christmas time.
This is not in order. Let us proceed to another question.
A Cheann Comhairle——
On the same question——
In respect of statistics only; policy matters do not arise now.
The Minister said there are 11,400 participants in social employment schemes. The Minister recently announced that there was a reduction of 30,000 people on the live register. Did this figure take into account the 11,400 people on social employment schemes?
No, because the 30,000 jobs were created during the year and do not include these people.
A Cheann Comhairle——
May I——
There are a number of Deputies still offering.
Can the Minister confirm whether the number of people applying for places on the schemes has increased or if there has been a drop in the number of people participating over the last three years?
There has been an increase; there is a continual additional demand for the scheme and I have no doubt that if I had more places I could fill them.
How many new places were agreed?
About 8,500 or 9,000.
Considering the success of the social employment scheme as demonstrated by the fact that it caters for 11,400 people, will the Minister give the House an assurance that this scheme will continue?
The Deputy is entering into the area of policy matters.
During 1991?
Yes.
Yes, it will.
I do not want the figures now, but has the Minister a breakdown of the numbers participating in this scheme on a county by county basis? If so, will they be available to Deputies? Can the people who were on social employment schemes get on another social employment scheme even though they were on a scheme less than a year earlier?
The Deputy is deviating from the statistical matter of the question.
Very briefly, that information would be available to FÁS on a region by region and county by county basis. With regard to the Deputy's second question, in some cases people can get back on a scheme. I think the criteria set down is that they must be three months out of one scheme but there can be extensions in particular areas, for example, on the islands where there is a discretion for off-shore participants.