Vol. 547 No. 4
79 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in the context of phasing out FÁS schemes in schools and the transfer of funding to the Department of Education and Science, she will facilitate people over 50 staying on until the end of the phasing out period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3866/02]
The new arrangements for the future operation of the community employment, CE, programme, which I introduced last year, provide greater flexibility for participants on CE, and in particular for those over 50 years of age. Participants who continue to experience difficulties in progressing to employment may have their participation in the scheme extended, within existing budgetary limits. For such participants FÁS now has discretion to offer a further period on the programme on a case by case basis.
This new flexibility does not apply to schools projects as savings on CE, which arise due to participants not being replaced, are being transferred to the Department of Education and Science in order to fund replacement services in schools, as part of the mainstreaming of certain CE essential services under the PPF. However, persons deemed eligible by FÁS under the new flexibility arrangements mentioned above may remain on the programme in a non-schools project, subject to a suitable vacancy being available.
