Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2004
13 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the number of projects for the community employment programme will be reduced in 2004; if the policy to reduce the number of participants has been implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13766/04]
View answerThe total number of community employment projects is likely to reduce slightly from the 1,368 in operation at year-end 2003. However, there are no reductions planned in the overall level of places available on the community employment programme in 2004. FÁS encourages projects that might otherwise not be renewed due to insufficient numbers of participants to amalgamate with neighbouring projects and thereby form a viable entity that can continue to provide a service to the local community.
In line with the Government decision in 1999, the phased reduction in community employment participation rates has been implemented to a stage where there were 19,848 participants on the programme at the start of the year. No further reduction in participation levels is planned. In fact, there may indeed be scope for a slight increase in the participation rate during the year based on the overall budget allocation of €351 million provided for FÁS employment programmes in the Estimates for 2004.
