Vol. 554 No. 5
165 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the aims and objectives of the social economy programme; the nature of the new high supports process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15525/02]
The social economy programme aims to maximise the role of social economy enterprises in the regeneration of local economies within local disadvantaged areas, communities and within communities of interest experiencing disadvantage. The programme will be particularly targeted at disadvantaged communities and long-term unemployed persons.
The objectives of the social economy programme are: to promote the emergence and consolidation of the social economy; to maximise the potential of the social economy to generate employment that is sustainable and of high quality, subject to labour market constraints; to generate both urban and rural communities by providing urgently needed local services, employment opportunities and experience for people who have been distanced from the labour market; to promote equal opportunities between men and women.
The purpose of the proposed high supports process is to provide appropriate supports to meet the needs of those people who because of age, literacy or other barriers are unlikely to succeed in getting, and keeping a job in the open labour market. The high supports process will build on the existing guidance and counselling services provided under the dual stranded national employment service to help people to become job ready.
I anticipate that the high supports process will be launched by FÁS on a pilot basis in the near future.
