Vol. 510 No. 2
1 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on the announcements she made during the summer concerning the community employment schemes; the commitments, if any, she gave to ICTU and INOU at a recent meeting to discuss changes in the schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22016/99]
The Deloitte & Touche evaluation of community employment was published in October 1998 following due deliberation and consultation, I brought a series of proposals to Government to implement many of the reforms put forward. The Government decision was the subject of a press release in July of this year.
Since then I have held further discussions with the INOU and the ICTU to clarify some aspects of the Government decision. I was happy to clarify that, first, the average level of places on CE schemes for 1999 will be maintained at 37,500 as previously agreed; second, there will be synchronisation to the greatest degree possible between the introduction of social economy jobs and reductions of CE places, social economy jobs in general will be full-time jobs so there will not be a direct one for one ratio; third, there will be consultations with the social partners within the Partnership 2000 Committee on Labour Market Issues on how best to allocate any medium-term resources freed up by the restructuring of CE to fit the needs of long-term unemployed; fourth, there will be consultations with the social partners at a central level on the proper funding and provision of essential services currently delivered through CE; and, fifth, I indicated that the refocusing of resources towards alternative programmes agreed with the social partners earlier this year is already operational.
The Government decision to reduce the number of CE places over a five year period, and to transfer the resources for 5,000 places to a dedicated social economy programme, remains unchanged. It should be noted that the Government has fulfilled by a factor of three the commitment to 10,000 additional active labour market programme places in paragraph 4.24 of Partnership 2000. All these places are for unemployed and socially excluded persons and most of them are targeted at the long-term unemployed. There will, of course, be further consultations on the provision of support to the unemployed in the context of the post-Partnership 2000 negotiations.
Does the Minister accept the criticisms levelled at her for making an announcement during the summer regarding a cut of 4,500 places in the CE schemes without consultation with the social partners? Will she take responsibility for the indication that all the cuts she announced in July have been discussed with the social partners as opposed to just the 5,000 which were being moved to the social employment scheme? Does she agree that at her meeting with ICTU and the INOU she confirmed there would not be a further 4,500 cuts from the 37,500 places until such time as there was full consultation and that the scheme would maintain 37,500 places into next year until such time as agreement is reached about any further cuts?
Last July the Minister announced an increase in the age threshold from 21 to 25 years and changes on capping whereby three years has been set as the maximum time anybody can spend on CE schemes. Is she aware that no guidelines have been issued to FÁS offices, that some FÁS offices have already begun to implement the change in the age threshold while others have begun to implement the new cap of three years? When does this latter change commence? If the Minister insists on a cap of three years, it should not start until such time as the guidelines are issued. This means a person who has spent two years on a CE scheme should not be prevented from commencing another scheme.
Is the Minister aware of the horror with which her decision was met? For example, there are many people in wheelchairs outside the House, many of whom are severely handicapped. Four hundred people on CE schemes are working with the Irish Wheelchair Association. If the Minister does anything to cut the numbers on those schemes, it will have a detrimental effect on the quality of life experienced by people in wheelchairs and with other handicaps. I hope the Tánaiste will give a commitment today that sectors such as the Irish Wheelchair Association will become part of the long-term social employment programme.
The Deputy posed a number of questions. First, there was full consultation with the social partners from the autumn of last year on this issue. Nothing changed as a result of the meeting in September when we discussed how the Government decision would be implemented. That remains the position. There seems to be confusion in relation to how the Government decision might be implemented.
There is somewhat of a conflict in the economy at the moment because there is a shortage of people to take up many of the jobs available. There are an additional 30,000 labour market places since Partnership 2000 was negotiated and there is a commitment to a further 10,000 jobs. An unprecedented number of work permits are being granted, some for longer than a 12 month period. Employment opportunities are being offered to those seeking asylum in this jurisdiction. The purpose of training and community employment initially was to help to provide unemployed people, particularly the long-term unemployed, with an opportunity to get back into the labour market. In the process, much worthwhile community activity occurs through community employment. We need to make decisions on how ongoing activities can continue to be funded. This is something I intend to discuss with some of the line Ministers. For example, it would be desirable in the case of schools if caretaker and school assistant posts were put on a permanent footing. It is unacceptable that every summer most schools do not realise what will happen the following year. There are approximately 4,500 community employment places in schools.
With a view to ensuring that, no worthwhile activity in the community, particularly in the voluntary sector, especially in relation to people with disabilities, suffers adversely as a result of changes in the labour market, I have asked FÁS to do an audit of community employment to determine exactly where the 37,500 places exist. There are approximately 3,000 schemes.
ICTU and the INOU were promised that a monitoring committee would be set up under the aegis of the Taoiseach's Department. Has this been put in place?
This is in place.
