Vol. 504 No. 7
117 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has laid down criteria in relation to the funding of the community employment schemes which will militate against particular types of schemes; the location and nature of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12910/99]
There has been a modest reduction in the number of places on the community employment programme, from 40,000 in 1998 to 37,500 in 1999. However new active labour market initiatives have been introduced which will provide over 10,000 new places in 1999. This is in the context of dynamic jobs growth and dramatic falls in the level of unemployment and means that the ration of active labour market programme places for long-term unemployed persons has been substantially improved. The most recent quarterly national household survey shows year on year jobs growth of 72,000 and a corresponding decline in unemployment of 65,000.
Within the parameters of the overall places available, the number of places on a project by project basis is an operational matter for FÁS. The criterion being applied is a qualitative analysis of projects, having regard for example to how well a project is achieving the objective of progressing CE participants into further education-training or employment. Priority is also given to projects that fit in with local development plans, drug task force projects and rate-for-job projects.
The dedicated social economy programme, which becomes operational later this year, will also be a means of delivering jobs and job supports to disadvantaged communities.
