asked the Minister for Labour if those in receipt of smallholders unemployment assistance are disqualified from being offered employment on special employment schemes; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulty in availing of these schemes in rural areas because of this rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To participate in the social employment scheme a person must be over 25 and in receipt of unemployment assistance or over 25, unemployed for over 12 months and in receipt of unemployment benefit.

As smallholders receive unemployment assistance they are eligible to participate on the social employment scheme. At present there are more potential participants than places available on the social employment scheme and priority is given to persons from the Jobsearch programme.

I am grateful to the Minister for that information which is contrary to what has been happening on the ground. I will raise the matter again with the Minister when I get information on the position of SES schemes in Connemara which were not able to take off because the only people available for the employment offered were smallholders who were in receipt of unemployment assistance from the Department of Social Welfare. Those people were told that they were ineligible to participate in the scheme.

I understand that there has been some difficulty in regard to this in recent years. I agree with the Deputy that there was some confusion. If the Deputy has complaints in mind, I will have them examined but the position is as I stated, smallholders are entitled to participate in the scheme.

The rider added by the Minister causes some confusion. Will the Minister take this matter up with the officials of the Department of Social Welfare because this difficulty has been experienced in the Connemara area?

I will do that. I gather that this problem was raised some years ago and that my predecessor issued a clear directive. If the Deputy wishes I will issue that directive again. I will clear up the position for the Deputy.

This problem has arisen in recent times.

I will reiterate the position in regard to the scheme.

Is the Minister aware that a number of island communities have contacted his Department pointing out difficulties they have had in meeting the requirements of the scheme? Will the Minister undertake to examine their case and communicate the information to the Deputies interested?

I will.