Social employment scheme targets and monitoring
The Minister said EC-approved schemes face conditions and European audits. The Government’s target was 10,000 participants; despite initial participation difficulties, he expected it to be reached within eight to ten weeks, with further statistics to come in a later answer.
Will the Minister state if the EC have set down criteria or targets for the establishment of the social employment scheme and what monitoring, if any, is done by them?
Comment on this
All schemes submitted to the EC that receive approval are subject to EC conditions and moneys paid from EC funds are subject to European audit. That proceeds all the time. The target was initially set by the Government of 10,000 participants in the scheme and that is expected to be reached in approximately eight weeks.
Comment on this
My memory is that on the launching of the scheme the target was 10,000 per year. What has been the progress with regard to the target? Has the figure mentioned by the Minister been achieved over a 12-month period or over a shorter or longer period?
Comment on this
The statistics will be available in a later question. There were some initial teething difficulties with regard to participation in the scheme both from the union point of view and from the point of view of the monitoring committee and there were other related matters. However, it is expected there will be 10,000 participants in the scheme in about eight to ten weeks.