Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

106 Mr. Lawlor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will review the changes previously made to the community employment and other employment and training schemes in view of the findings of the recent ESRI-UCD report which determined that only five of the 14 initiatives and schemes were effective; if she will consider reinstating, in some form, the three employment subsidy schemes deemed most effective in the report and which were abolished in her earlier changes. [29073/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The report referred to in the question suggests that participation in labour market activation programmes such as community employment, which is the largest of these programmes, is unlikely in itself to significantly improve the job prospects of participants unless it is followed by progression to effective schemes which improve employment prospects.

I am more attracted to the idea of a trained workforce, not requiring subsidy, than to a workforce which has to be subsidised as compensation for lack of skills and training. However, the contents of this report, and other reviews of the various active labour market programmes, already carried out, will be taken into consideration as part of the overall appraisal of ALMP's under the PPF which will be undertaken in the new year. This will be done under the auspices of the standing committee on the labour market, which includes the social partners.