Vol. 502 No. 4
46 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to implement the recommendation of the Deloitte & Touche report to disallow local authorities, the Department of Education and Science and other State bodies employ persons on community employment schemes due to the fact these schemes generally have weak linkages with the labour market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8342/99]
I am engaging in widespread consultation with interested parties, including the social partners, in regard to the recommendations of the Deloitte & Touche report. I have made no decision in regard to these recommendations. However, I fully recognise the value of community employment generally throughout the country. I am particularly conscious of the value of the scheme to schools and voluntary and community bodies and I will be taking these factors into account in any decisions I make.
In parallel to the process of consultation currently ongoing the Government in the 1999 Estimates reduced the number of community employment places by 2,500 but increased the number of active labour market programme places under my Department alone by a net 8,875. This follows a deliberate strategy of increasing active labour market programme places with the best prospect for employability and of allowing unemployed persons to access mainstream FÁS training.
48 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proportion of community employment and training option places reserved for women in the home; the proposals, if any, she has to increase the proportion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6408/99]
There has been significant growth in women's participation in community employment in recent years. In 1998, 27,737 women, 51 per cent completed this programme compared with 25,704 women, 46 per cent in 1997 and 22,683 women, 42 per cent in 1996.
With regard to specific provision for women who wish to return to work following an extended absence from the labour market, FÁS provides return to work courses. This programme helps participants to develop the confidence necessary to re-enter the labour force and is also an important bridging programme for progression into comployment or other FÁS programmes. The programme is delivered on a part-time basis within local communities and 1,065 women completed return to work courses in 1998.
Many women returners, however, do not undertake return to work training. They move directly into specific skills training programmes and into enterprise training programmes and from there into employment or self-employment. Anyone seeking a job or a suitable training programme can avail of the FAS placement service.
The 1998 quarterly national household survey shows that women who have worked in the home are accessing jobs in substantial numbers and the work-friendly nature of the 1999 budget will assist this process.
A working group, representative of the social partners, is considering the issue of access by women to labour market opportunities and is likely later this year to make recommendations on enhanced access. The group is chaired by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Changes in eligibility criteria for admission to active labour market programmes will be made on foot of the recommendations of this group.
