Martin’s job scheme changes fail to reverse FÁS cuts

CHANGES to community employment schemes will allow over-55s to serve for six years, but won’t actually increase the reduced numbers of places on FÁS programmes.

The reforms announced by Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin yesterday were heralded as a breakthrough by Fianna Fáil backbenchers but derided by opposition parties for failing to reverse the cuts to the schemes.

Following the 2002 general election, the Government made substantial cuts to FÁS employment schemes, reducing the number from 30,000 to 19,000. The cuts by Tánaiste Mary Harney, including 5,000 CES places, sparked a revolt within Fianna Fáil.

Mr Martin confirmed he was maintaining the present 25,000 places overall on three schemes - CES, Jobs Initiative Schemes and Social Economy Programmes.

According to a recent parliamentary question, the number of CE scheme places declined from 25,000 in January 2003 to 19,850 in January 2004 and by next year will rise to 21,300. The remaining 3,700 will be made up by the JI and SEP.

Mr Martin said that despite the buoyant labour market, the continuing high level of inward migration and low unemployment, there is still a need for these schemes for people who find it difficult to secure employment.

Welcoming the changes, Fianna Fáil Limerick West TD John Cregan said the announcement followed intense lobbying of ministers and a motion at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party by himself and his colleagues Billy Kelleher and John Cregan.

Describing the changes as minimal, Fine Gael’s Phil Hogan said the 2003 schemes resulted in participants being laid off and the minister had failed to restore the schemes to their full capacity, while Labour’s Kathleen Lynch said the announcement fell well short of what was needed.