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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

84 Mr. Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department in conjunction with the Department of Social and Family Affairs will introduce a social employment scheme in autumn 2003. [18573/03]

Tom Hayes

Question:

91 Mr. Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will intervene with FÁS to provide funding for community employment places for people who are personal assistants to the disabled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18575/03]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

94 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the decision to terminate the positions of people who have been five years or more on the job initiative scheme; if her Department has made an assessment of the consequences for community and voluntary organisations of the change; if she will give a commitment that no contract will be terminated until the person concerned has secured alternative employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18450/03]

Arthur Morgan

Question:

129 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of community employment schemes in place at this time; the number which have been cut in each of the past two years; the number of people who are employed on community employment schemes at this time; the number of community employment places which have been cut in each of the past two years; if there are proposals for further cuts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18588/03]

John Gormley

Question:

146 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will lift the FÁS three year capping on community employment schemes which combined with a bar on recruitment is leading to a crisis for many service providers in the health area. [18370/03]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

155 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in certain circumstances, people over the age of 50 can get an extension of time on a community employment scheme; and if so, the circumstances in this regard. [18444/03]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

165 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she proposes to take to relax the conditions for participation in community employment schemes for those with disabilities, both as beneficiaries and as participants, with particular attention to the three year limit for scheme participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18657/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

183 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will review current policy in regard to the reduction of community employment schemes in respect of health associated support services such as carers and those involved in assisting people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18844/03]

Mary Upton

Question:

188 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her further plans for cuts in community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18858/03]

John Deasy

Question:

189 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts she is making to lift the three year cap on community employment schemes to ensure in particular that health care workers trained by groups such as the Irish Wheelchair Organisation are not lost; if the Minister for Health and Children has requested such a sanction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18859/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 91, 94, 129, 146, 155, 165, 183, 188 and 189 together.

The community employment, CE, and job initiative, JI, programmes are currently under review. 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 JI, which is well advanced and should be finalised shortly. The outcome of the current review process will inform the Government's consideration of options for the future direction of such programmes.
CE places in the health sector, including personal assistant services for persons with disabilities, have been ring-fenced from reductions and are being maintained at March 2002 levels to ensure continuity of the delivery of these services. 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. Such places are, however, subject to the normal participation limits for participants on the programme, which is usually a maximum of three years.
CE is an active labour market programme and the concept of progression by participants is central to such a 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. In this regard, I have asked FÁS to make a particular effort to identify CE participants suitable for the positions in question.
FÁS has discretion to offer up to 20% of the total number of participants a further period on the CE programme, on a case by case basis. Participants are considered for an extension if on reaching the end of their normal entitlements on CE they are likely to experience difficulty in getting employment due to their age, literacy or numeracy problems or a lack of suitable jobs available locally.
A number of participants on the JI programme, which was designed as a three year programme for persons unemployed for five years or longer, have had difficulty progressing from the programme to employment. Participants on JI who are currently five or six years on the programme are now being provided with intensive support and guidance with a view to providing them with the necessary skills and confidence to take up jobs in the open labour market. Under the reviews of CE and JI currently ongoing, consideration is being given to addressing the needs of a small number of these people who are unlikely to find employment, even with the new supports now being provided.
The number of projects and participants on CE since 2001 are as follows: 2001 – 1,967 projects with 30,809 participants, year end; 2002 – 1,694 projects with 24,991 participants, year end; and 2003 – 1,547 projects with 22,157 participants, current position.
The number of projects has reduced by 420 and participant numbers have reduced by 8,652 over the period in question, which has seen a relatively buoyant employment situation in the wider economy. Figures quoted include a number of positions as caretakers and secretaries in schools, which were mainstreamed to the Department of Education and Science. In light of the foregoing, I have no plans at this time to introduce yet another social employment scheme.
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