I move:
That Seanad Éireann calls on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to honour the commitment of the Government in respect of community employment places as outlined in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness; seeks an immediate cessation of any reduction in places pending full consultation with existing schemes; and further calls on the Government to recognise the enormous positive contribution made by the participants to the community employment schemes and to community development generally.
I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, to the House. Yet again we are seeing this Government attacking the most vulnerable people in our society. It is time to expose the lies that were told at the last general election on the issue of community employment.
This issue affects every county. In the current round of cutbacks in excess of 10,000 community employment jobs could be lost. With recent redundancies and the rising rate of unemployment, there will be even greater pressure on job seekers. It is those who rely on community employment schemes who will find it most difficult to secure permanent jobs.
Community employment schemes provide a unique opportunity for people who lack training or experience to gain vital skills to move into mainstream employment. These schemes reduce dependency on social welfare and provide much needed support for a wide range of social and community projects. We are demanding that the Government abide by its commitment given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness and resist the temptation to slash these vitally important jobs within the social economy.
The continuation of community employment schemes at the same levels of availability as in 2002 is vitally important in order to allow everyone the opportunity to work. The deterioration in the economy and the rising level of unemployment will mean that people who are being displaced from community employment schemes will not be able to gain access to other work on the open market. It is essential to continue the training and employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed and people with disabilities who would not otherwise have access to such opportunities.
The viability of the projects and activities of every community group are now dependent on the participation of people on community employment schemes. Almost every community hall, sporting organisation and health care facility in every parish is dependent on part-time employment of local people through the FÁS-funded schemes. I acknowledge the work undertaken by community groups throughout the country with the assistance of these schemes.
We on this side of the House are committed to maintaining participation in these schemes at the same level as in 2002. It is essential for community development and the self-esteem of the scheme participants that they are allowed to continue to work in the community. I call on everyone on the opposite side to take a stand on this important issue and not allow the financial mismanagement of the Department of Finance to be an excuse to eliminate a very successful idea which over the years has given many thousands of participants a great opportunity to gain work experience and return to the workplace on a full-time basis.
We should be conscious of the fact that those who cannot work full time on the grounds of major disability deserve a break. Fine Gael fundamentally believes that people should have the opportunity to work and seek to be gainfully occupied through employment.
The Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, recently stated in the Dáil that, in accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment, participation levels are gradually being reduced, reflecting the significant reduction in the numbers of the long-term unemployed and the shift in emphasis away from work experience programmes to training, from which there is a greater level of progression to employment. The average participation rate on community employment in 2002, the Minister stated, is expected to be in the region of 28,000, with a projected year end participation rate of 25,000. What is to happen to the 3,000 at a minimum who will be displaced when we consider that unemployment is unfortunately on the rise again?
Supervisors of community employment schemes have accused the Government of failing to consult them about the planned cuts which will affect thousands of jobs. They say that up to 10,000 participants in the schemes, as well the 700 supervisors themselves, will lose their jobs if the cuts anticipated in the internal FÁS review go ahead. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's views on that.
The Department is maintaining that no decisions have been taken yet about future funding for the schemes, but the House will be aware that there is mounting speculation that the number of places is to be reduced from 25,000 by the end of the year. This arose as a result of the internal FÁS document which was leaked a month or more ago. The Government's Estimates, due to be published tomorrow, will presumably end the uncertainty, but I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, will tell us the position.
The supervisors of the schemes state that cuts along the lines envisaged will cause devastation to communities throughout the State and this is undoubtedly true if they are as forecast. I find it amazing that the supervisors have not been consulted about any proposed cuts. It is appalling that such major decisions are apparently being made without including in the consultation and decision-making process those most affected. Supervisors would like to point out the full human value of the schemes which provide employment for people who are over 25 and on social welfare for a year or more.
It would be socially unacceptable to tamper with these schemes in any major way. These schemes would be needed even in an economy with near full employment. Unfortunately, the economy is not in such a healthy position; it is deteriorating. There have been over 40,000 redundancies in the past 20 months or so. As we can now see, the employment situation has become more volatile.
Many small towns and villages are totally dependent on these schemes to provide employment and to get much needed and highly beneficial work done. We all know the contribution the schemes have made to the development of services for local communities. The Government should be aware of the concern in these communities at the recent reductions in the schemes and the prospect of further cuts.
We are aware that FÁS is undertaking a major review of the schemes. I call on the Minister to assure the House that FÁS is merely exploring options and that no cuts of a serious nature, such as are being speculated about, will take place. The destruction of community employment would be an absolute disaster. Surely all will acknowledge the beneficial and productive work being done by community employment and the disadvantage communities would suffer as a result of cuts. It seems certain that numbers will be reduced. We must avoid inflicting further pain on communities which are most in need of the effort being made by community employment.
We all have personal experience of the beneficial work being done. The entire Ring of Kerry is totally dependent on community employment schemes. In Killarney the beautiful river walk by the river Deenagh on Port Road as well as the footpath and stone wall have been provided by a community employment scheme. Many Deputies will have canvassed in the village of Scartaglin – a former mayor of Kerry resides there – and will have seen the beneficial work done there by a scheme. All Members will have heard of Sneem, which has won major awards in the Tidy Towns competition on many occasions and which has been beautified by community employment schemes.
I plead with the Minister to ensure there will be no reduction in community employment schemes below the 2002 level.