Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

111 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of places available on community employment schemes in January 2000, January 2001, January 2002 and January 2003; the number that will be available during 2004; the total amount allocated in the Estimates for 2004 for community employment schemes; the way in which this compares with 2003; if her attention has been drawn to the severe difficulties being created for community and voluntary organisations by the reduction in community employment places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29905/03]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

129 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the Government's plans to fund in their own right, services previously provided under community employment by the community and voluntary sector; the number of cut community employment places which in the past five years have been replaced with directly funded positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29941/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 129 together.

The level of participation on community employment, CE, since January 2000 is as follows:

January 2000	36,579
January 2001	33,549
January 2002	30,809
January 2003	24,991
January 2004	20,000 (Target)

The Government has decided, in the context of the 2004 Estimates, that there will be no further reduction in the number of places to be supported under CE next year. The number of places to be supported in 2004 will not drop below the end-year 2003 target of 20,000.

The total allocation for employment schemes in 2004 has been fixed at €351 million, which will support up to 25,000 places across the three employment schemes ie CE, job initiative and social economy. 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. This allocation, €351 million, is similar to the budgeted amount provided in 2003. Accordingly there will be no reduction in the total level of provision for the three schemes or in the combined participation levels next year.

Approximately 4,500 CE places in schools have been mainstreamed over the past number of years. This involved the appropriate degree of funding being transferred to the Department of Education and Science for the provision of replacement services in schools. In addition, approximately 2,300 places have peen provided on the social economy programme. There are no plans to mainstream further CE positions in the immediate future.