Vol. 573 No. 2
25 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of places currently available on community employment schemes; the number that will be available at the end of 2003; if her attention has been drawn to the severe difficulties being created for community and voluntary organisation by the reduction in community employment places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24467/03]
31 Mr. McGinley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals for improving community employment schemes, as promised by her; and if she will be restoring the number of participating places to 2002 levels in view of the hardship being caused to community groups arising from her decision to cut funding in 2003. [24419/03]
47 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has ring-fenced community employment schemes in CLÁR areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24150/03]
51 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received the report of the FÁS internal review of community employment and jobs initiatives programmes; the main recommendations of the report; if it is intended to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24468/03]
69 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if jobs in community employment schemes in areas prioritised under the RAPID programme will be safeguarded from cutbacks; the circumstances which would lead to cutbacks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24129/03]
75 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people who are currently employed in community employment schemes; the projected number for mid 2004; and the equivalent figures for the social economy scheme and the part-time jobs initiative. [24603/03]
88 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which she proposes to provide necessary funding to facilitate the restoration of a large number of community employment schemes throughout the country, the curtailment of which has lead to serious deprivation and hardship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24731/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 31, 47, 51, 69, 75 and 88 together.
The average participation rate on the community employment, CE, programme is expected to be in the region of 22,500 during 2003 with a projected year-end participation rate of 20,000. This amounts to a reduction of 5,000 places on the year-end position for 2002. At the end of September 2003 there were 20,329 persons working on CE, 2,319 on jobs initiative and 2,402 employed on the social economy programme.
The Government is aware of the important contribution that CE has made to the development of services for local communities over the years and the difficulties which now arise for sponsor organisations in the voluntary and community sector due to the reduction in the level of funding available for the programme. Certain essential services are ring-fenced from reductions in order to minimise the effect of reductions on particular groups and services. Services ring-fenced include drugs task force activity, child care services and CE places in the health sector. Projects and/or places in disadvantaged areas, which come under the RAPID initiative, are given priority over places outside these areas, subject to budgetary and quality considerations. While projects in CLÁR areas are not ring-fenced, FÁS makes every effort to facilitate such projects within the level of funding available.
FÁS is currently finalising its internal report on CE and jobs initiative, which will be published upon completion. The PPF mandated review of active labour market programmes is also being progressed under the aegis of the standing committee on the labour market, 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. Both of these processes are near completion.
