Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Willie Penrose

Question:

160 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if further progress has been made by her Department in relation to ensuring the continuity of the provision of personal assistants for the participants in centres for independent living; if she will consider amending the eligibility criteria and conditions for participants in community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24037/01]

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

In line with a commitment in the PPF, and following consultations with relevant Departments and the social partners, certain services currently provided by participants on community employment, CE, are being mainstreamed. The mainstreaming of schools services is currently under way and discussions with the Department of Health and Children on the mainstreaming of CE health services are proceeding. The possibility of mainstreaming certain environmental services currently provided under CE is also under consideration.

Services provided under CE for disabled persons are classified as a priority by FÁS and have been protected from the phased reductions imposed on other categories of projects due to a restructuring of the programme in 1999. Audits of CE services undertaken in 1999, 2000 and 2001 showed an increase in the number of CE participants providing these services.

The mainstreaming of health services will involve the transfer of CE funding from FÁS to the Department of Health and Children, and should place services such as personal assistants on a more secure footing. The centres for independent living will be included in this mainstreaming process. Such services will, after an appropriate transition period to allow CE participants work out their contracts, be solely the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children. Every effort will be made to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements.

A small number of individuals continue to experience difficulties in getting jobs following their participation in CE due to barriers such as age, health, literacy, numeracy or a lack of suitable jobs locally. In recognition of this, I have recently introduced greater flexibility with regard to such participants, particularly in the case of older workers. FÁS now has discretion to offer a further period on the programme on a case-by-case basis for these participants. This flexibility does not apply to projects currently being mainstreamed, however, participants can be facilitated on other projects as vacancies arise.