Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Billy Timmins

Question:

84 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department received requests from the Bray Project national school, County Wicklow, or from the parents of children attending this school, expressing concern at the cutbacks in the area of secretarial assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20267/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 91 together.

I can confirm that I have received representations from schools, including the Bray Project national school and from parents expressing concern regarding the inadequate funding of schools for secretarial and other services previously undertaken by participants on the community employment programme, CE.

In line with a commitment in the PPF, and following consultations with relevant Departments and the social partners certain essential services currently undertaken by participants on CE will be mainstreamed. This process involves the transfer of CE funding for specific services to other Departments with functional responsibility for the services in question. Services in the schools sector are being prioritised at present in this regard.

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 CE. Mainstreaming should enhance the services being provided and provide valuable employment opportunities. I intend to initiate the mainstreaming process by transferring CE funding freed up by the reduction in CE positions in schools to the Department of Education and Science in time for the new school year beginning in September next. The transfer of CE moneys to the Department of Education and Science will enable that Department to put in place an equitable system of funding for such services.

It is intended under the mainstreaming process that all schools, including those who have never benefited from CE funding, will receive additional funding. During a transition period some schools will receive the additional funding from the Department of Education and Science while still benefiting from the services of CE participants, as CE incumbents who opt to serve out their contracts will be facilitated in doing so. However, it should be noted that, as part of the mainstreaming process, CE participants will not be replaced in schools when their term has finished. Schools services in future will be solely the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science.