Vol. 575 No. 1
90 Mr. O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position with regard to community employment, jobs initiative and social economy programmes arising from the publication of her Department's estimates; her plans for the reorganisation of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27894/03]
91 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the combined participation levels on community employment schemes, jobs initiative and the social economy programme in 2004 will be maintained; her plans to increase the numbers on those schemes by decreasing the numbers on the other schemes in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27895/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.
The total Estimates allocation for the community employment, job initiative and social economy programmes has been fixed at €351 million which will support up to 25,000 places across the three employment schemes. FÁS is being given some flexibility in the management of this financial allocation to maximise progression to the labour market while at the same time facilitating the support of community services. The commitment to fund a continuing pool of up to 25,000 places across the three schemes clarifies which levels of activity will be supported and enables FÁS to give a clear commitment to the support of local community services.
In deciding the financial allocation for the schemes for 2004, the Government was informed by the work of the cross-departmental senior officials group. While the total financial envelope for the schemes has now been fixed, the views of the standing committee on the labour market on the ALPs and the review of the social economy programme will be taken into account in considering any adjustments in the structure and the terms and conditions of the labour market measures in the future.
