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.