Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Conor Lenihan

Question:

131 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans the Government has, in the context of declining unemployment particularly in the greater Dublin area, to introduce changes in the community employment schemes run by FÁS; the implications such changes, including mainstreaming, will have for community centres employing personnel on such schemes; the implications changes may have for scheme participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16603/01]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

Community employment is a work experience programme whose primary role is to assist the progression of participants into jobs and-or further education and training. FÁS has operational responsibility for the delivery of the programme, which has currently approximately 33,500 participants. Following the Government's decision in July 1999 to restructure the programme, the numbers on community employment schemes will reduce to 28,000 by the end of 2003. In this context, it is necessary for FÁS to prioritise projects according to needs. Priority is currently given to "caring/support" projects based in the community and voluntary sector, including child care, care of the elderly and disabled persons, and drugs task force projects.

In line with a commitment in the PPF, consultations are currently taking place with relevant Departments to progress the mainstreaming of certain essential services. This process involves the transfer of community employment funding for specific services to other Departments with functional responsibility for the services in question.

It is intended that mainstreaming will take place on a phased basis having regard to the suitability for mainstreaming of the service being provided, and with due regard to an individual's participation entitlements on community employment. Mainstreaming should enhance the services being provided and provide employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed.

My Department is finalising proposals for a new high supports process, which will be targeted particularly at participants on the jobs initiative programme and other long-term unemployed persons who find it difficult to progress to open labour market employment due to age, health or literacy or numeracy factors. Further consultations with the social partners on the high supports process are due to take place shortly and I hope this process can be put in place at an early date.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

132 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 29 May 2001, she will outline all the exceptional circumstances where arrangements are made to extend the period on community employment schemes beyond three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16604/01]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The current arrangements for participation on community employment allow for three years total participation on the programme. Residents of the offshore islands and participants on drugs task force projects are exempted from this rule. In addition, as indicated in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 29 May 2001, short duration extensions may be permitted where people are awaiting commencement of a training course or a job.

If the Deputy is aware of any specific breach in these guidelines, I will have this brought to the attention of FÁS with a view to its putting the procedure in place in the specific case in question.