INOU welcomes continuity of FAS Employment Schemes

10 Nov 2004

The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed broadly welcomes the announcement by Minister Michéal Martin of changes to the FAS employment schemes. These changes recognise that there are still many unemployed people trying to access the labour market and that these schemes are valuable in providing both work experience and training to participants.

‘It is reassuring that the Minister recognises the valuable contribution these schemes have made and to learn that these schemes are here to stay with the number of places available for 2005 remaining at 25,000 across the three programmes, namely Community Employment, Jobs Initiative and Social Economy,’ said Mr Eric Conroy, General Secretary INOU.

‘Overall, we welcome that the Over 55’s can extend their duration on CE up to a maximum of 6 years, that there will be no lay-offs on the JI scheme and that there will be no compulsory cessation of the Social Economy Programme. However, it is worrying that those leaving JI voluntarily will be replaced by CE participants as this reduces the options for the very long-term unemployed. There is a danger that these individuals will be further excluded as competition for CE places increases and the places may be allocated to younger people who have been unemployed for a shorter duration,’ he added.