Vol. 511 No. 6
109 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the regulations, if any, disqualifying applicants in receipt of deserted wife's allowance from qualifying for a community employment scheme; and if she will amend the regulations to enable applicants qualify in the future. [25430/99]
The community employment programme is targeted at the long-term unemployed. Limited resources do not make it possible to provide community employment for all unemployed persons. Therefore, it is essential to target the programme at those most in need.
Currently, persons in receipt of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, one parent family payment, widow's and widower's pension and persons classified as qualified adults of long-term unemployed persons are eligible to participate in community employment in their own right. In order to satisfy the eligibility criteria, persons with children who are in receipt of deserted wives benefit can apply to transfer to OPFP in order to become eligible to participate in community employment. The current eligibility criteria for community employment were introduced in July 1999 following a detailed review of the programme and in response to the recommendations of the Deloitte & Touch report on community employment. I have no plans at present to further widen the eligibility criteria. However, I will of course keep all programmes under scrutiny to ensure that they meet their objectives and my Department will address any anomalies or discrepancies that arise.
All unemployed people, including married women who wish to return to the workforce and deserted wives, are eligible to participate in FÁS mainstream training/specific skills training programmes.
