Vol. 483 No. 4
41 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will address the anomaly which exists for women who are in receipt of a contributory widow's pension, who are technically lone parents but cannot be considered for FÁS schemes in view of the fact that they are not considered on the live register. [20549/97]
The categories of persons and entry requirements for access to FÁS schemes are the responsibility in the first instance of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As the Deputy is aware, a range of schemes and programmes currently operated by FÁS are targeted at specific groups such as the long-term unemployed and lone parents.
Partnership 2000 includes a commitment to the establishment of a working group to examine the question of gender equity in access to labour market opportunities. This group has now commenced work under the chairmanship of my Department and it is expected that its report will be available by mid-1998. The issue raised by the Deputy will be considered in the context of the group's work.
