Community Employment Schemes.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004

Thursday, 16 December 2004

Questions (71, 72, 73, 74)

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

58 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons on community employment places at 1 January 2003 and 1 January 2004; the anticipated numbers at 1 January 2005; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by many community and voluntary groups due to the shortage of community employment places; if changes are planned with regard to eligibility to participate in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33756/04]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

71 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he plans to take measures to ensure that community employment schemes are extended to a broader range of persons, particularly to those with a disability. [33849/04]

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

72 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a date has been set for the publication of the review of community employment schemes, which was conducted by FÁS and which has already been submitted to him; and his views on the matter. [33851/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

131 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he expects the new budgetary allocation to meet the requirements of FÁS in terms of the restoration of schemes or projects abandoned due to lack of finances in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33996/04]

Written answers

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 71, 72 and 131 together.

FÁS employment programmes, which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative, are being maintained at their existing level in 2005 at 25,000 places. Community employment provides work experience and training opportunities for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups with the aim of assisting participants to progress to a job in the open labour market. The programme specifically caters for persons with a wide range of disabilities who satisfy the eligibility criteria.

I am informed by FÁS that the number of participants on community employment in January, 2003 was 24,991 of which 4,098 or 17.7% were persons with disabilities; in January 2004 there were 19,848 persons on the programme of which 3,401 or 18.6% were persons with disabilities; it is anticipated that there will be 21,650 participants on community employment at the start of 2005 and approximately 20% will be persons with disabilities.

I have reviewed current policy on the operation of the FÁS employment schemes, which had been the subject by FÁS of an assessment earlier this year. On foot of this review I decided that with effect from 10 November 2004 the three year cap would be removed for community employment participants aged 55 or over. This category of participants is now eligible to participate on community employment for a maximum of six years. The current ring-fencing and prioritisation for the essential services of child care health related services and drugs task force clients are being maintained. The continuance of ringfencing and the extended participation on community employment by older workers will help to secure the continuity of community services generally and will ensure that the existing community service support framework will be maintained. I have no plans to make any further changes to community employment criteria in the immediate future. The community employment programme will, of course, continue to be monitored closely by this Department.