Vol. 469 No. 1
571 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if regulations will be changed to facilitate people who are willing to participate in a FÁS or community employment scheme but are prevented from doing so in view of the fact that their spouse is in full time employment. [16564/96]
Community employment is designed primarily to prevent marginalisation among long-term unemployed people whose principle or only source of income is a social welfare payment. Its objective is to provide temporary work experience opportunities together with some training that would enhance the employment prospects of those at whom the programme is targeted. Current resource constraints rule out the possibility of widening the eligibility pool for this programme to include other categories.
With regard to FÁS mainline training/specific skills programmes, these programmes are open to all persons who are available for and seeking employment. However, priority is given to those on the live register.
