Vol. 527 No. 3
99 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason full-time workers under the whole-time jobs initiative have not received the 5.5% increase due under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. [28305/00]
100 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the instructions given by her Department to FÁS with regard to the payment of the 5.5% increase due under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to those employed on the whole time jobs initiative. [28306/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The jobs initiative programme, JI, is an active labour market programme which offers three-years work experience to persons who have been unemployed for five years or longer, at an agreed rate for the job. Participants may retain their secondary benefits, including the Christmas bonus payment, subject to the general retention conditions. Participants with children, depending on the family income, may also have an entitlement to family income supplement.
An allowance, which is currently £220 per participant, per week, is paid by FÁS to managing agents. This allowance covers the cost of paying participants the rate for the job; it also includes an amount towards the training and development of the participants and the administration costs and overheads of the project. The rate of allowance payable per participant is reviewed annually and must not be so high as to provide a disincentive for JI participants to take up mainstream employment.
While work experience programmes such as JI and the community employment programme meet the national minimum wage requirements, however, they are not covered under the terms of the PPF as it is not mainstream employment. The fundamental objective of these programmes is to progress participants into open labour market employment where they can benefit fully from the national partnership agreements.
