Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason salaries have been linked to the national wage agreement for participants in job initiative schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5490/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Job Initiative wages are not linked to any national wage agreement, however, they are linked to the Community Employment rates of pay, which are in turn linked to Social Welfare rates (with an additional participation top-up payment). Job Initiative scheme participant wages are double that of the Community Employment wages, because JI participants are full-time (39 hours per week) whereas CE participants, are part-time (average 19.5 hours per week).

As part of Budget 2010 a number of savings were identified in the area of training allowances that are linked to Social Welfare payments and certain FÁS Allowances that are provided in addition to the core training allowances. The FÁS training allowance for Community Employment and Job Initiative participants has been reduced from €24.40 and €48.80 per week to €20 and €40 per week respectively. These savings will allow for increased activation of the unemployed including an additional 500 CE places bringing the total number of places available to 23,300.

The following table contains details of JI allowances for the years 2009 and 2010.