Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, for coming to the House. This issue relates to the three-year cap on community employment schemes. As the Minister of State and the Acting Chairman, Senator Ulick Burke, know, there is an organisation in our constituency known as the East Galway Community Action Group which has had a number of meetings with us, as public representatives, in the past 18 months. Some of the meetings have been successful and, in particular, I thank the Minister of State for his help in regard to the community employment schemes in Mountbellew.

An issue which has been consistently raised, and which was raised at a public meeting last week, is the question of trying to stabilise numbers on the FÁS schemes. There is a strong feeling that if the three-year cap stays, this stabilisation will not occur. One of the best examples given at the meeting related to a scheme known as Moylough Parish Services Limited. It was explained at the meeting that there were 11 people on the scheme, eight of whom were over 50 years of age. They are now unable to continue on the scheme because of the three year rule. It is interesting that when this scheme started in Moylough eight years ago, the average age of the people on the scheme was between 35 and 45 years. Many people have moved on to full-time employment and further education about which we are delighted, but there are people who need to continue on the scheme. I make a plea for them because, as I said, eight of them are over 50 years of age. Of the eight, there are three male participants in their 60s. I do not know where they will get employment if they are not allowed back on the scheme. There are five participants in their 50s, three males and two females who are widowed and are trying to rear their families. I hope the Minister of State will look at the three-year cap and at a concession for people over 50 or 55 years of age.

There is a major concern that the opportunities in rural areas and small villages are not available to everyone. There is a difficulty in regard to some family farms which are small. The schemes in question have given gainful employment and have provided a reasonable weekly income to households. The point was strongly made at the meeting that there should be more emphasis on employment than on just training. As I understand it, under the new rural social employment scheme, there is no question of training and it is for people who have herd numbers and who can go straight into employment. While that scheme is useful, one must have a herd number, so it rules out people who would have been on a community employment scheme.

Moylough has had these schemes for the past eight or nine years. The Minister of State and his Department should look at the changing situation and at the special needs area, the educational health area and other such areas in which communities are anxious to take up the challenges. If we could change the three-year cap and look at the issue of people over 50 or 55 years of age, we would be doing a good days' work.