Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Denis Naughten

Question:

166 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on a letter of 6 June 2003 from the Irish Wheelchair Association on the issue of community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17331/03]

Seán Crowe

Question:

168 Mr. Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the cutbacks in community employment schemes taking place across the country and to the fact that the Finglas-Cabra Partnership recently had a community employment scheme cut from the Ventry Park play centre; her views on the fact that such cutbacks in child care provision for disadvantaged areas will cause severe problems for workers, especially young single mothers; and her proposals to address the problem of diminishing numbers of child care facilities nationally and in the Finglas-Cabra area. [17012/03]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

172 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the savings made to date on the community employment scheme as compared to the same period in 2002; the projected savings for a full year; the extent of reductions and savings in the Tallaght region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17151/03]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

174 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has replied to correspondence received from a project (details supplied) in Dublin 12 concerning the termination of that community employment project and the imminent loss of 18 jobs; the terms of correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17197/03]

Seán Ryan

Question:

175 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to proposals by FÁS to withdraw a range of services currently being provided in Balbriggan and Skerries for the people of north County Dublin and south County Meath, especially in the towns of Lusk, Rush, Skerries, Balbriggan, Stamullen and the wider rural area; if so, the range of services being affected; and the justification for same. [17213/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 168, 172, 174 and 175 together.

In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment, participation levels are gradually being reduced reflecting the significant reduction in the numbers of the long-term unemployed and the shift in emphasis away from work experience programmes to training, from which there is a greater level of progression to employment. The average participation rate on the programme during 2003 is expected to be in the region of 22,500, which amounts to a reduction of approximately 5,000 places phased over the year. The allocation of places and renewal of individual CE projects, including projects in Dublin and surrounding areas, is a matter for FÁS.

Drugs task force activity and child care service provision are ring-fenced from any reductions and projects in RAPID areas are given priority. CE places in the health sector, which include personal assistant services, are being maintained at existing levels to ensure continuity of the delivery of these services. However, such places are subject to the normal eligibility requirements for the programme.

I understand the difficulties being encountered by organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, which have difficulty in replacing participants due to the lack of suitable applicants coming forward for the programme. All health service related CE projects, including those sponsored by the Irish Wheelchair Association, have been ring-fenced from reductions that have taken place as a result of reducing the CE programme to 20,000 places by the end of 2003. During 2002 when CE places were reduced from 38,809 to 25,000, FÁS ensured that these designated health CE places were untouched and that the places were maintained as agreed. Therefore the reductions that have been reported by the IWA are not as a result of any reduction in CE places provided to this or other health service sponsors by FÁS. The sponsor is encouraged by FÁS to recruit replacements for those who leave having completed their full complement of time on CE. The current difficulties point to a shortage of CE applicants, increase in demand for such services from communities and a reduced capacity on behalf of the service provider to meet this demand in the absence of other resources to fill these posts with more long-term applicants. FÁS will endeavour to support such organisations within its remit.

Funding amounting to €274.3 million is being provided for the administration of the CE programme during 2003 and €323.1 million was provided in 2002. This amounts to a reduction of €48.8 million this year. The cost of CE to the end of May 2003 is €120.4 million, which is a reduction of €22.6 million over the same period last year. CE expenditure in the Tallaght area is a matter for FÁS.

A number of reviews of CE are currently under way. The PPF provides for an overall appraisal of active labour market programmes to be carried out and this work is being undertaken under the aegis of the standing committee on the labour market, which is chaired by my Department. In addition, a cross-departmental group of senior officials has been asked to consider options for the future of CE, taking account of the link with the provision of community services. FÁS is also currently completing an internal review of CE and the job initiative programme, which is well advanced and should be finalised shortly. The outcome of these various initiatives will inform the Government's consideration of options for the future of these programmes.