I apologise to Senator Costello, to the Leas-Chathaoirleach and to the Seanad. I got a telephone call to be here at 8.18 p.m. I was here at 8.10 p.m. so the first Adjournment matter must have been concluded very quickly. However, I am aware that things move differently sometimes and events overtake one another. I am glad that Senator Costello repeated some of the points in his speech.
I noted in particular the scheme at Buckingham Street which had 28 people employed and the diversity of work of the people on it for a great number of years in the area. I can only imagine how much it has contributed to the general well-being and secure feeling of the area, and the feeling of comfort people have got from having matters attended to as they have been, so excellently, under the social employment scheme. I heard Senator Costello saying that the trade unions have given their acquiescene to it and their approval. That is to be welcomed because in so many areas that did not happen that way. Obviously the work has been very good.
An Exchequer allocation of almost £73 million was made available to FÁS in 1992 for the social employment scheme. The scheme has been in operation since 1984 and there is no point in my going back over the historical background. There were about 12,500 people on the FÁS scheme at the end of April this year and 54 per cent were people with adult or child dependants. The scheme represents a successful collaboration between local communities and the State in that local groups sponsoring projects come forward with proposals for projects in their communities, many of which involve improvements to local amenities. The Minister sends his regrets to the Seanad, he has gone to Brussels for a Social Affairs Council meeting to be held tomorrow.
The scheme is to a certain extent a victim of its own success as people have seen what can be done through social employment schemes. I know from my own county, and through schools, particularly primary schools, how much the schemes have donee to improve facilities available in certain areas.
Under the social employment scheme the intention was that projects would be of finite nature which would allow flexibility and provide opportunities for the long term unemployed. Obviously it would be unfair if projects were automatically renewed each year. At the same time, we cannot deny the expectations are high when schemes are proved to be satisfactory, when a lot of work has been done and the community are enthusiastic. The voluntary input by communities is one of the most remarkable features of the socil employment schemes which give people a real stake in their communities.
The Minister for Labour recently indicated in the Dáil that he was aware of the difficulties being experienced having some projects renewed. A mid-year review of FÁS expenditure indicated that there will be some savings on employment scheme expenditure due to a slight change in the profile of participants, which means that more people can participate than were targeted at the start of the year. The Minister told FÁS to utilise those savings to fund additional social employment schemes and Teamwork activity between now and the end of the year. This should overcome some of the difficulties being experienced by sponsors where SES projects have expired or are about to expire. The Minister goes on to stress the flexibility FÁS must have to manage the scheme. The scheme is not eligible for European Social Fund aid since the end of 1991 but in 1992 the Government made up the £13 million which had been made available via the European Social Fund in 1991.
The better news is that there are various other programmes aimed at the long term unemployed under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The Community Employment Development Programme will replace the social employment scheme in other areas. Under this programme a training element will be provided on projects involving 15 or more participants, and participants will retain their secondary social welfare benefits, such as butter vouchers, fuel allowance, etc.
EC aid in the form of a global grant is being sought by the Taoiseach's office for the various measures, including the community employment development announced by the Taoiseach. If EC aid becomes available for the new programme, the Minister for Labour is hopeful that this will strengthen the case with the Commission to have European Social Fund aid restored for social employment schemes generally. The Minister and all of us agree that if we can do that, we will have achieved a very worthwhile objective. There was a training element in the schemes at the outset but, for one reason or another, it was not continued. Apparently, it did not get the approval of Europe.
FÁS has been conducting an urgent review of social employment scheme projects whose renewal had been deferred and the position will be clarified with sponsors as quickly as possible. In relation to his own scheme, I think Senator Costello has heard some soundings which are hopeful and optimistic in nature. I share Senator Costell's concern, as people of all parties do. These schemes started tentatively; I have always felt very strongly about them.
I remember when the Senator's party was in Government and Deputy Quinn was Minister for Labour, and he proposed the schemes in the Dáil. I was one of the first to speak in favour of the scheme and I was reprimanded by some of my own party for being in favour. The then Opposition spokesman, Deputy Bertie Ahern, was also very strongly in favour of it and I have seen the good it has done.
I thank Senator Costello for bringing the matter to the Seanad this evening and I assure him that Deputy Cowen, the Minister for Labour, coming from a county which has used the SES extensively, is aware of the input it has made to local communities and the pride it has given local groups. His wish is to see that this scheme continues. He will continue his strong efforts in Europe, with the Commission and the Council of Ministers, to see that the EC aid is renewed as quickly as possible. I am glad to have had the opportunity to come here this evening and to give the Minister's apologies, but most of all to indicate his aspirations and hopes in that regard.
The Seanad adjourned at 8.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 June 1992.