Vol. 535 No. 3
48 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement in connection with the ongoing confusion concerning the future of community employment; if a voluntary exit package will be made available for community employment supervisors; and if agreement has been reached between her Department and the Department of Education and Science in respect of transferring the community employment school scheme. [11928/01]
Community employment – CE – is a work experience programme whose primary role is to assist the progression of participants into jobs and/or further education and training. The programme provides temporary opportunities for long-term unemployed persons for a period up to three years.
Consultations with relevant Government Departments are currently taking place in order to progress the mainstreaming of essential services currently undertaken by participants on the CE programme. The mainstreaming of these services should enhance the services being provided and provide employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed.
Discussions with the Department of Education and Science with regard to schools services are at an advanced stage and I intend to begin the mainstreaming process and to transfer CE funding freed up by the reduction in CE positions in schools to that Department in time for the new school year in September next.
Supervisors are employed by the sponsors of projects and these positions are funded by a grant from FÁS. The personnel concerned are not FÁS employees. My Department has discussed the issue of supervisors becoming redundant as a result of the mainstreaming of CE services with the trade union representatives and with groups of supervisors. Current arrangements allow FÁS funding for statutory redundancy payments only, in cases where it is clear that sponsors are unable to meet these costs.
The matter of redundancy payments to supervisors is being considered in the overall context of the mainstreaming of CE essential services.
Question No. 49 answered with Question No. 29.
