John Browne
Ceist:110 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to lower the qualifying age for the social employment schemes from the present age of 25 years.
Written Answers. - Social Employment Schemes.
I have no plans to lower the qualifying age below 25 years for entry to the social employment scheme, which is the principal manpower intervention aimed at older long term unemployed persons.
People under 25 were eligible to participate in the community employment development programme which replaced the social employment scheme on a pilot basis in the 12 designated areas established under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. Intake to that programme, which was more expensive to operate than the social employment scheme, is being discontinued for the remainder of this year at least, thus maximising the numbers of long term unemployed that may benefit through particpation in community employment schemes within the funds available. The reintroduction of the programme is dependent on the availability of ESF funding in the context of the Community Support Framework for 1994 to 1999.