Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Tony Gregory

Question:

145 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the existing specific numbers on community employment schemes, the jobs initiative and the social economy programme; and the projected figures in each case for 2004. [29888/03]

Tony Gregory

Question:

146 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of current community employment places on ring fenced drugs task force schemes in the Dublin area. [29889/03]

Tony Gregory

Question:

150 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of community employment participants on ring-fenced drug related projects; and the reason the commitment to provide 1000 places has not been adhered to. [30017/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

165 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make available further resources to facilitate much needed community employment schemes at the various locations throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30135/03]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 146, 150 and 165 together.

There are currently 19,250 participants on community employment (CE), 2,174 on job initiative (JI) and 2,354 on the social economy (SE) programmes. The target participation rates for 2004 is 20,000 on CE, 2,200 on JI and 2,300 on SE. The total funding 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. 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 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. The allocation of CE places per county or region is a matter for FÁS. There are currently 818 participants on ring-fenced drugs taskforce related projects countrywide. While up to 1,000 places are available for drugs taskforce referrals on designated schemes FÁS has had some difficulty in filling these places in certain areas. However, the commitment to 1,000 places still remains in place.