Vol. 417 No. 1
58 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline whether, in relation to the announcement made by the then Taoiseach in July 1991 that 2,500 new places on the social employment scheme were to be created, such places have yet been created; and if he will further outline the funding which has been provided for the creation of such places.
351 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the progress which has been made in relation to the commitment given to the ICTU in May 1991 that an additional 2,500 social employment scheme places would be created this year; the number of the additional social employment schemes places created to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Question Nos. 58 and 351 together.
The original allocation of the social employment scheme in 1991 envisaged a participation level of 10,000 at year end.
Following a meeting between the Government and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on 5 June 1991, the then Taoiseach announced new measures which would help the employment situation including, inter alia, an increase of 2,500 participants on the social employment scheme (SES) by the end of the year. The number of participants has been increasing gradually as a result of this decision and on 31 December last, there were 12,344 on the social employment scheme. The increased numbers cost about £3.5 million and this was met by Exchequer sources including savings elsewhere in FÁS. There are, of course, offsetting savings in the Department of Social Welfare vote as all participants on the scheme come from the live register.
61 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Labour if he will agree to change the conditions governing eligibility for FÁS social employment schemes which discriminate mainly against married women who are unemployed and signing for credits but are deemed ineligible for the schemes as they are not receiving payments or benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The social employment scheme is directed at long term unemployed persons over 25 who are either in receipt of unemployment assistance or in receipt of unemployment benefit for 12 months. The rationale is that expenditure on the scheme is offset by savings in unemployment compensation payments. Persons not in receipt of unemployment compensation payments are therefore not eligible to participate.
