EU aid for women's training and employment
The Minister said Ireland had submitted five AnCO applications seeking £117,425 for training women aged 25 and over; the reply was cut off before giving further details or outcomes.
asked the Minister for Labour the applications for aid under decision 77/804/EEC dealing with the training and employment of women over 25 years of age made by this country since the decision came into force on 1 January 1978 and the total aid, if any, received to date.
23.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Labour the details of schemes submitted to date for aid under Article 4 of the European Social Fund, which were designed to encourage the access of women to occupations in which they have been traditionally under-represented and the total aid received under this heading by this country.
Comment on this
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 23 together.
Since the relevant Council Decision came into force on 1 January 1978, five applications for a total amount of £117,425 have been submitted by Ireland in respect of training programmes to assist the entry or re-entry of women of 25 years of age or over into working life. The five applications concerned have all been submitted by AnCO. One relates to operations in 1978, while the remaining four are in respect of 1979 operations. The European Commission has formally approved Social Fund assistance in respect of the 1978 application. Three of the 1979 applications were recommended for approval by the advisory European Social Fund Committee at its meeting on 23 March 1979 and formal approval of those applications is expected from the Commission shortly. The fourth 1979 application will be considered by the advisory European Social Fund Committee on 6 July 1979. Particulars of the schemes are set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
To date no aid has been received from the European Social Fund in respect of the five applications concerned. Formal Commission approval of the Social Fund grant in respect of 1978 operations was announced only on 12 March 1979 and a claim for payment of the grant is at present being prepared. It will not be possible to submit any claims for payments in respect of the 1979 operations until appropriate grants have been approved by the Commission.
Following is the statement:
Details of schemes for which Ireland has submitted application for assistance from the European Social Fund under Decision 77/804/EEC relating to operations designed to facilitate the entry or re-entry of women of 25 years of age or over into working life.
