Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 36: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way his work for the dole scheme will work and if the scheme will be compulsory [43860/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Activation and support for those who are unemployed is a key priority for Government. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach announced a number of changes to improve the delivery of employment, training and community services to the public by bringing together related responsibilities in these areas. These changes included the restructuring of departmental responsibilities with the objective of providing a streamlined response to the income support and job search needs of people who are unemployed.

In this context, my Department is devising proposals for the development of new initiatives which will offer social employment opportunities. This new initiative will be an important element in the development and delivery of employment and community services and will aim to provide quality work opportunities to the unemployed and beneficial outcomes to the community. A key feature of the new scheme will be to provide a new activation route that will support unemployed people in remaining job-ready for re-entry to employment as the economic environment improves.

Referrals under these new initiatives will operate in tandem with the improved processes being developed under the national employment action plan.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Last August the Minister announced 10,000 new scheme places but three months later not a single additional scheme place has been provided. We heard much talk from the Minister throughout the year about various initiatives to help people access employment but, unfortunately, we have seen very little action. When does the Minister intend to establish this promised scheme? How does he propose to pay for it? Can he give us an assurance that the scheme will be voluntary?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Work on the scheme is well advanced and I hope to be able to make an announcement on it in the near future. I did not make an announcement on a scheme but I did an interview in which I indicated that I believed a scheme such as this should be developed. I also indicated in the interview that it should provide 5,000 to 10,000 places initially. As I said, I am working on it and we will announce the details in due course.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister has had quite a bit of mileage out of this in recent months, that is, announcing various initiatives, including this one. Let us see some action. Can he put some meat on the bones of this? How many places does he intend to provide? We know that if one opens up new places on a voluntary basis, they will be hugely oversubscribed. That is the reality. The majority of people on jobseeker's benefit or allowance want to do something worthwhile. If the Minister provides the places, people will fill them without any difficulty. When does he intend to set up this new scheme? How many places does he intend to provide on the scheme and how does he propose to pay for it?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It will be paid for out of Exchequer funds provided to my Department.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Not this year. Is that what the Minister is saying?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Work is well advanced on the scheme. An announcement will be made on the detail of the scheme in due course.

The Deputy asked a parallel question about schemes being voluntary and so on. I remind her that it is my intention to commence sections 18 to 20, inclusive, of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 on 1 January 2011. The national employment action plan must have sanctions for people who say they are available for and are actively seeking work but who do not avail of appropriate courses or training and refuse to participate in programmes.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On a point of order, nobody is arguing with the Minister about that. We are asking him about this promised scheme. He is supposed to provide 10,000 places.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is not a point of order.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When will the Minister provide those places and will they be voluntary?

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister may not have announced the scheme but he leaked it to the media. I do not know what the difference is and the media might explain it to us. The media ran with it over the summer and I was inundated with requests to find out Fine Gael's view on it. Deputy Shortall had the same problem. When will we see people taking part in this scheme? Will it be compulsory because, as I said previously, it would be wrong to take an accountant or an architect off the live register and have him or her sweep the streets. That would not be acceptable as a way to remove people from social welfare. Will the Minister confirm that will not happen?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

This will be operated through the national employment action plan. As I pointed out to Deputy Shortall, it is intended to introduce sanctions provided for in law on 1 January 2011 to give teeth to the national employment action plan. When the scheme is introduced - I have explained this in detail previously - the names of those willing to participate and co-operate with the national employment action plan will be put on a register for employment on the scheme. Obviously, those who do not participate in the national employment action plan, which is an integral part of our approach, will be subject to sanctions. That is the way it should be.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Like the other speakers, I understood the Minister was to introduce a scheme with 10,000 places. It is very disappointing that has not happened because it is the way forward.

The real reason I want to speak is to put the record straight in that many of those who were self-employed still have great difficulty getting social welfare.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We have had two questions on that already.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I know that but I wanted to put it on the record that everything is not sorted out. It is important for those who are in a bad way that the facts are set out.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would be concerned if the Deputy believed my Department was not applying the guidelines in regard to self-employed people. The Deputy should give me specific incidents so I can prove that is not happening. From my own work, I know that sometimes people do not give adequate information to my Department to make these decisions. I would be more than willing to listen if the Deputy could give me specific incidents where people who have an entitlement to jobseeker's allowance are not getting it. He knows I would be very concerned if that happened.