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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Job Initiative Schemes.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

140 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of projects approved, individuals employed and the location of the projects in relation to job initiative schemes; if it is generally used by those who have completed three years of community employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12220/98]

Job initiative is a pilot programme designed to prevent long-term unemployed people who live in areas of high unemployment, where access to the labour market is extremely limited, from becoming marginalised by providing full time jobs for three years. The programme is primarily targeted at those who are 35 years or over and in receipt of any of the following social welfare payments for five years or more:—

— Unemployment Benefit (UV)

— Unemployment Assistance (UA)

— One Parent Family Payment (OPFP)

In addition married unemployed persons can swap their social welfare entitlement in order to qualify for job initiative and periods spent on community employment (CE) can count as part of the five year social welfare qualifying period.

FÁS, as part of its responsibilities under the Labour Services Act, 1987, has operational responsibility for the delivery of job initiative, including deciding on eligibility of individuals as well as the number of location of projects, and I have no function in regard to these matters.
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