Written answers

Thursday, 3 July 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Support Services

5:00 am

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employees with a disability being supported by the wage subsidy scheme; if she is satisfied with the uptake of the scheme; the measures in place to alert employers to the scheme and to encourage greater participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26370/08]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Wage Subsidy Scheme is operated by FÁS on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Scheme is available to all employers (except public service employers and/or any employers or schemes where wages are funded by FÁS) in the State who provide a minimum of 21 hours of employment per week to disabled workers. The objective of the scheme is to increase the number of persons with a disability in employment, and as far as practicable provide a level playing field for them in seeking out, or remaining in employment. There are currently 575 participants on the Wage Subsidy Scheme as of June 30 2008.

An independent consultancy review has been commissioned by my Department to examine the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the operation of the Wage Subsidy Scheme over the initial pilot phase. The objective of the review is to assess the operation and the impact of the scheme, and to identify areas which can be built upon to ensure that the scheme achieves maximum effect in meeting the objectives of:

facilitating people with disabilities to enter full-time paid employment in the open labour market

encouraging employers, in both sheltered and mainstream settings, to employ people with disabilities

giving people with disabilities the opportunity to experience open labour market employment.

This is with a view to rolling out the initiative into a full programme aimed at providing ongoing incentives for both employers and people with disabilities in the open labour market.

The review has recently been completed and is now being considered by my Department in consultation with FÁS. The findings of this review will inform the Department and FÁS on how the effectiveness of the scheme may be enhanced in the future as an incentive to both employers and disabled employees.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide a breakdown for 2005 to 2008, on a county basis, of the number of recipients of one parent family allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs on employment schemes and the type of scheme; if she will provide, in respect of community employment schemes, an analysis of the time spent on schemes by participants registered in each year between 2005 and 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26401/08]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS as an agency of my Department operates two employment schemes namely Community Employment (CE) and Job Initiative (JI). Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine and assists them in enhancing/developing both their technical and personal skills.

The Job Initiative (JI) programme provides full time employment for people who are 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more, and in receipt of Social Welfare payments over that period. The main purpose of the programme is to assist long-term unemployed people to prepare for work opportunities by providing participants with work experience, training and development opportunities.

In relation to the information sought by the Deputy the following tables provide a breakdown of the number of recipients of one parent family allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs on Community Employment Schemes and Job Initiative Programmes on a county basis for the years 2005 to 2008. Table 3 provides an analysis of the time spent on Community Employment Schemes by participants registered in each year between 2005 and 2008.

Lone Parents on CE, Year end 2005, 2006, 2007 to June 2008 by County
County200520062007June 2008
Dublin 1199197179167
Dublin 2139135126140
Dublin 352386561
Dublin 4481514
Dublin 5132121108100
Dublin 617162118
Dublin 71241058078
Dublin 8264210259228
Dublin 941253947
Dublin 1076725957
Dublin 11307286251209
Dublin 12988395104
Dublin 1323151918
Dublin 1428111
Dublin 15122127106114
Dublin 169678
Dublin 17171168136134
Dublin 1855224039
Dublin 2025163119
Dublin 2213514110692
Dublin 24243229220220
Dublin West49
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown61696666
Dublin North County/Fingal84727180
Carlow73677372
Cavan32323131
Clare116108123123
Cork City331299265255
Cork County183172161161
Donegal172175193196
Galway City72564951
Galway County10492112129
Kerry177159186200
Kildare146134135137
Kilkenny70817574
Laois62575155
Leitrim21242419
Limerick City229194173165
Limerick County74767265
Longford65666972
Louth232200208218
Mayo115128112116
Meath96938884
Monaghan59587874
Offaly63736760
Roscommon36374030
Sligo95928274
Tipperary (North Riding)58536160
Tipperary (South Riding)121125121119
Waterford City11811310978
Waterford County39283230
Westmeath12299103103
Wexford173159158169
Wicklow159133143149
Total5,8265,3545,2945,183

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