Dan Neville
Question:165 Mr. Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason there has been extensive cutbacks (details supplied) in the community employment health sector. [17596/03]
Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:166 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will rescind the current restriction on the case of community employment places in the health sector with particular reference to voluntary bodies, such as IWA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17736/03]
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:169 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people currently participating in community employment schemes; the numbers on community employment on 1 January 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003; the projected number of community employment places for 31 December 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17672/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 166 and 169 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 5,000 places approximately, phased over the year. The allocation of places and renewal of individual CE projects, throughout the country, is a matter for FÁS. The level of participation on CE as at year-end is as follows: 39,039, 39,520, 36,579, 33,549, 30,809, 24,991, 20,000 – target. There are currently – 30 May 2003 – 22,769 participants in CE schemes.
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 includes 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.
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 being reduced, FÁS ensured that these designated health CE places were untouched and that the places were maintained as agreed. 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. However, CE is an active labour market programme and the concept of progression by participants is central to such a programme.
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 senior officials group 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.