John Browne
Ceist:17 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Labour if he has any plans to allow people in receipt of unemployment benefit rather than those in receipt of unemployment assistance to fill positions in FÁS schemes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. - FÁS Schemes.
Persons in receipt of unemployment benefit are eligible to participate in the social employment scheme and the employment incentive scheme provided they are unemployed for 12 months. They are eligible for the enterprise scheme provided they are unemployed for not less than 13 weeks, part of which can be on disability benefit or on a training course. In the case of teamwork, which is directed at young people, those in receipt of unemployment benefit are eligible to participate without restriction on the period of receipt of same.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Ba mhaith liomsa freisin comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire sa phost nua atá aige, agus tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal leis.
May I ask the Minister if the definition of "oxymoron" in Department of Labour language is not saying to a person that he cannot work because he has not worked for the past 52 weeks? A person on unemployment benefit has to be unemployed for 52 weeks before he can qualify for a place on a FÁS training scheme. Is there not something contradictory in barring, on that criterion, a person on unemployment benefit who may be highly qualified for participation in a scheme relating to an area where skills are needed — for example, school secretary posts — but are not to be found among people on unemployment assistance?
Sa chéad dul síos, gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an chomhghairdis, agus tá súil agam go mbeimid go léir in ann comhoibriú le chéile.
Perhaps it is an oxymoron, which I seem to remember from a certain educational establishment also. I would be quite happy to look at any anomalies but I hope the Deputy will understand that it is too early for me to say that I will make definite changes. Nonetheless I will be glad to talk to him about it.
In looking at that matter, will the Minister also look at the anomaly which has arisen where people can receive less on a FÁS scheme, such as the social employment scheme, than they would if they were in receipt of unemployment assistance? This is a factor which affects some schemes very seriously.
We seem to be entering into an area which is not the responsibility of the Minister. Let us now proceed to deal with Private Notice Questions.