The social economy programme supports the development of social economy enterprises and provides sustainable jobs for the long-term unemployed.
A total allocation of €351 million is being provided in 2004 to support up to 25,000 places across the three employment schemes, community employment, job initiative and the social economy programme. Of this, more than €40 million is being allocated to the social economy programme.
The demands for assistance under this programme far exceed the budget available. FÁS is scheduling the support to approved projects so as to ensure as equitable a distribution of funds as possible. In the circumstances it is not possible to satisfy all demands and some enterprises will be disappointed.