Vol. 522 No. 3
73 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has discussed with the Department of Education and Science the dramatic changes in the posts of classroom assistant and caretakers in schools as a result of the changes in the community employment schemes and the changes announced by the Minister for Education and Science; and if there will be co-ordination in these policies. [18575/00]
Community employment is a temporary work experience programme whose primary role is to assist the progression of participants into jobs and-or further education and training.
The current restructuring of CE, which was decided by the Government in 1999 in consultation with the social partners, involves a phased reduction in the number of participants engaged on CE to 28,000 in 2003. In this context it is necessary for FÁS, as the operational agency for the programme, including project selection and the allocation of places, to prioritise projects according to needs. Priority is currently being given by FÁS to "caring/support" projects based in the community and voluntary sector, including child care, care of the elderly and disabled persons, and drugs task force projects.
On the matter of services currently being delivered through CE to the education sector, my Department, in the context of the commitment under section 4.2.4 of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, is engaged in ongoing discussions with the Department of Education and Science with a view to determining the potential to mainstream such services.
I hope to have proposals ready for consideration by the social partners through the PPF standing committee on the labour market in the early autumn.
While there may be some short-term reduction in funding for schools due to the CE restructuring, the proposed mainstreaming of schools services should be a satisfactory end result both for CE participants who are eligible to compete for these positions and for the education sector who would then be able to retain trained staff.
74 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the future of community employment schemes; if the cap is to remain for certain categories; her views on the finding of the recent report commissioned by her; and if she will make a statement on the future of these schemes. [18576/00]
Community employment is an active labour market programme whose primary role is to progress participants to jobs in the open labour market. Following the restructuring of CE approved by Government in 1999, the following revised eligibility criteria apply to persons who wish to participate in the options available under the programme:
(a)the part-time integration option is aimed at persons who are unemployed and in receipt of a payment in respect of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, qualified adults, one parent family payment or widows-widowers pension for a minimum period of 12 months. Persons in receipt of a disability payment who obtain approval from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature can also participate in the programme.
The eligibility age for participation in this CE option was raised from 21 years to 25 years on 1 January 2000 with the following exceptions: travellers, ex-offenders, refugees, people with disabilities, people referred under drugs task force, offshore island inhabitants and 18-24 year olds referred through EAP who are 18 months or more unemployed.
Participants remain on this programme for a period of one year. A limited number of people can remain for a second year in circumstances where it will facilitate their progression to employment.
(b)the part-time job option-rate for the job is targeted at persons who need a longer programme in order to become job ready. Participants must be 35 or over and three years unemployed and in receipt of the payments stated previously. Participants can remain on this option for a period up to three years.
Other changes to the programme forming part of the restructuring process, which were introduced in April 2000, include the duration of participant breaks between schemes increased from six to 12 months, and future participation in CE by an individual will be capped at three years. An individual's previous participation on the programme will not be taken into account. Offshore island residents are exempt from these changes.
75 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the course of action that is open to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was informed that he will not be eligible for a community employment scheme or a job initiative scheme until he has signed on the unemployment register for one year, in view of the fact that he is currently on a back to work scheme and on a State income of £78 per week and this will be reduced by 25% next week. [18637/00]
The primary purpose of programmes such as community employment and jobs initiative is to provide a pathway back to open economy jobs for those who need such support. These programmes are prioritised very much towards long-term unemployed people or other specific groups facing particular labour market disadvantage. Persons returning to the labour market or moving between jobs can avail of the services of FÁS, either for employment placement or for training, and such supports can frequently be more appropriate than being placed on work experience programmes.
As of now I have no plans to change the eligibility conditions for community employment or associated programmes.
