Vol. 498 No. 2
126 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date she has in mind for the establishment of a social economy programme in line with the agreement in Partnership 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27017/98]
A social economy working group was set up on foot of the commitment in Partnership 2000 "to undertake a detailed examination of the potential of the social economy", in the context that "appropriate support mechanisms to facilitate the achievement of the full potential of the social economy will be established, in the light of recommendations of the working group". The four social partner pillars, relevant Government Departments, FÁS and Area Development Management Limited were represented on this working group, which met from October 1997 to July 1998.
There are ten recommendations concerning the future development of the social economy, including the introduction of a social economy programme with dedicated financial and institutional supports, in the final report of the working group. It recommended that funding for the social economy programme be sourced primarily through a reallocation of funding currently committed to community employment and that it should be managed at national and local level by FÁS, in partnership with relevant interest groups.
I have fully accepted and have started to implement the recommendations, contained in the final report of this working group, concerning the introduction of a dedicated social economy programme. There is provision in my Department's 1999 Estimate for additional Exchequer resources of £1 million to assist social economy enterprises and I will shortly be inviting the four pillars of the social partnership to nominate representatives to the national monitoring committee. I envisage that this monitoring committee will be established early in 1999. I want this committee to have a central developmental role in the social economy programme from the outset.
The monitoring committee will oversee the phased introduction of the new programme which may prove to be a relatively complex task. Practical guidelines concerning the operation of local working arrangements between FÁS and local relevant interest groups, including partnerships, must be agreed by this monitoring committee. It will also have a central role in advising my Department and
FÁS on how the phased transition from existing community employment projects to new social economy enterprises can best be handled.
