I acknowledge that in some regions there has been a backlog in some of the schemes. However, I am pleased to inform the House that I have obtained the approval of the Government to increase the number of places on the social employment scheme by 2,500 between now and the end of the year.
This will result in expenditure of about £71 million being incurred in 1991 on the social employment scheme involving an Exchequer allocation of £62 million, which represents an increase of over £11 million on the 1990 allocation, and EC assistance of over £9 million. This is a very significant level of expenditure and is evidence of the Government's commitment to helping the long term unemployed.
I am committed to maintaining the SES at the highest possible level of participation as it is the principal manpower intervention to assist the long term unemployed. It provides an opportunity for persons who had been long term unemployed to become involved in a work related situation, albeit on a part time basis, for one year. It provides the discipline of working again together with the opportunity to learn new skills or practice existing skills.
As Deputies are aware, participants must be over 25 years of age and either in receipt of unemployment assistance or registered as unemployed for over 12 months and in receipt of unemployment benefit.
FÁS now operate on a regional basis with each region having its own budget to cover the provision of training and employment schemes in the region. This ensures a more equitable distribution of FÁS operations throughout the country resulting in some cases in requests for projects under the various schemes in parts of the country where a demand did not exist prior to regionalisation. This could mean that despite the increase in numbers the same number of projects may not be renewed in certain areas in order to allow worthwhile projects to start in new areas. As already stated, the level of funds available will allow around 12,500 people to be involved on SES projects by the year's end.
I welcome the increase in the number of older unemployed people with families who are now participating in the scheme in increasing numbers. This resulted from the introduction of the child dependant allowance last year. At present around 57 per cent of participants have adult and child dependants compared with only 30 per cent at the end of 1989.
I am satisfied that participation in the scheme is very worthwhile for participants and helps improve their prospects of obtaining employment when opportunities become available. There is the added bonus that the projects on which the participants work are of significant benefit to local communities. The scheme has received universally favourable comment from sponsors and participants and there has been heavy demand from potential sponsors and participants alike.
I would like to thank Deputy Deenihan for raising the question in a constructive way. I will look at the areas he mentioned. As I think he knows, I will be involved in some FÁS activities in the area on Friday of this week so I will talk to the local managers about the problems the Deputy raised at that stage.
The Dáil adjourned at 11.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 6 June 1991.
