Continuing on Social Employment Schemes
Birmingham asked whether people could remain on a scheme beyond a year when ordinary applicants were unavailable. Ahern cited the extra cost and trade-union opposition to routine second-year participation, while noting flexibility in some cases, particularly for people with disabilities.
The Minister has shown some flexibility in response to a question from Deputy Colley that a particular approach should be taken where it is shown that there are no qualified people on the live register. Would the Minister consider adopting the same approach where it is established there are no ordinary applicants on the live register where a sponsoring organisation want to retain on a scheme a person who has already completed their year or want to restore them on the scheme after a lapse of time?
Comment on this
As I said in reply to Deputy Colley, there still would be the financial implications of such a change. During the past few months I have held discussions with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on the social employment scheme and they are very reluctant to agree to a position where people would be allowed to continue into a second year, although some flexibility has been shown in particular cases, particularly in respect of the handicapped. Agreeing to allow people continue into a second year would create great difficulties for many reasons.