I welcome the opportunity to raise this important issue. Some of us do not realise that community employment schemes make a significant contribution to the development of community life, particularly in areas which have been designated as disadvantaged, such as those which qualify for partnership companies. I am mainly, though not exclusively, concerned with Dublin 12.
The majority of community employment schemes, however, were capped, with the exception of those which got the opportunity to have "rate for the job". Some groups which applied for the rate for the job were told that the quota had been used up and they could not, therefore, apply for it. Those over 35 years of age cannot take up part-time job options under these new regulations because they are not allowed a third year. If 28 participants in Dublin 12 were over 35, they would have been normally entitled to second and third years. Now only 10 per cent are entitled to that – only 2.8 people could be retained as opposed to 28 in the past.
In the Dublin 12 area the number of previous participants over 35 allowed to participate in the community employment scheme was 587. That has now been capped at 484, a reduction of 103. That area is not large but the schools in it which benefit from the assistance of the community employment schemes and all the other projects will suffer if this is allowed to go ahead.
The FÁS community employment supervisors network in Dublin 12 is very disturbed by the changes taking place in community employment. The scheme was set in 1993 to get short and long-term unemployed into the workforce. Supervisors were trained accordingly. They were told how important it is to treat the participants with dignity, to build up their self-confidence and improve the quality of their lives, something they have done. I have seen the transformation in people participating in these schemes. Now that the economy is successful, they have been cast aside and we are only dealing with numbers.
I have been asked to raise eight points by those involved. All their projects, except for those accepted for rate for the job, have been capped. I say those accepted because a number of projects were turned down for this option because the local FÁS office had reached its quota. The supervisors were led to believe at a meeting with FÁS personnel that they would be going for rate for the job. In anticipation they had recruited over 35 long-term unemployed. Now all that has changed and they have to let their over 35s go after one year.
This group is working in a disadvantaged area, doing very valuable work such as caring for the elderly and those with disabilities and running crèches and playschools. They have been told they will be judged on progress. Many of the participants are lone parents who have never worked outside the home. Because the participants are socially disadvantaged, one or two years is not enough time to prepare them to take up the jobs which had been created.
There have been various reports such as those by Deloitte & Touche and Conference of Religious of Ireland, but nobody consulted with those on the job. The participants were led to believe that the posts will be cut further next year. These rumours have caused alarm. They also have been led to believe that other disadvantaged areas have been unaffected by these changes. Why is that? Some participants have difficulty in reading and writing, with the resultant fear of training.
The Exchequer has been given £590,000 in tax and PRSI by these people. They are making a financial as well as a social contribution. We must not deal with this matter like a bull in a china shop. We must take into account the contribution they are making. I hope the Minister will take these concerns into account and act accordingly.
