Conor Lenihan
Question:107 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the future she envisages for the community employment scheme. [15105/99]
Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.
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. This is in the context of dynamic jobs growth and dramatic falls in the level of unemployment. 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. In addition, the Government has pursued a strategy of refocussing resources in the 1999 Estimates and budget on active labour market programmes for long-term unemployed with better labour market linkages and progression outcomes than community employment. These new active labour market initiatives will provide over 10,000 new places in 1999. The ratio of active labour market programme places for long-term unemployed persons has thus been substantially improved.
On foot of the Deloitte & Touche review of the community employment programme, my Department undertook consultations with the social partners on the restructuring of community employment with a view to better targeting of the programme at persons with greatest disadvantage in the labour market, and improving the quality of the programme for participants. That process has now been completed and I will bring proposals to Government shortly. The community employment programme is by far our biggest single labour market programme and is destined to remain so. It offers important supports to people seeking to re-enter the labour market and, as a secondary objective provides a resource to the community and voluntary sector.
Over time it is intended to transfer some resources – the equivalent of 5,000 places – from the community employment programme to a new dedicated social economy programme, which will operate alongside the community employment programme. This will also be a means of delivering jobs and job supports to disadvantaged communities but in a much more flexible package than available under community employment.