Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Oct 1993

Vol. 435 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

105 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether it is fair and equitable that persons working on community enterprise development programmes in selected parts of the country are eligible for concessions such as free fuel allowances, free butter vouchers and the Christmas week bonus, whereas workers on social employment schemes are discriminated against as they are not entitled to similar concessions; if he will ensure that the workers on the social employment schemes are accorded similar concessions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

The level of payments to participants on the Social Employment Scheme is pitched above that to which such persons would be entitled had they remained on the Live Register. Accordingly, persons on the scheme are compensated for the loss of the extra benefits such as fuel allowance, butter vouchers etc to which they might be entitled had they remained in receipt of social welfare payments.

The Community Employment Development Programme, which was introduced on a pilot basis in the twelve partnership areas designated under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress strategy to combat long term unemployment, provides, inter alia, for the retention of social welfare benefits by participants. The reason for this and for the other special measures operating in these areas is, as indicated in the Dáil by the Taoiseach on 7 October, 1992, to reduce some of the disincentive effects which attach to the removal of welfare benefits from persons in the areas and categories in question when they obtain employment or take up a training or employment scheme opportunity.

The question of extending the number of areas under the area based strategy is currently under consideration.