Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2005
260 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 163 and 170 of 1 December 2004, if he is stating in the final paragraph of the reply that community employment scheme funding and rent funding will be available to the County Kildare centre for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8851/05]
View answerI am informed by FÁS that they provide funding directly to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions centre for the unemployed in Kildare through the Community Employment Programme. This enables the centre to provide places for persons who are unemployed and disadvantaged in order to assist them in re-entry to the labour market.
The County Kildare centre for the unemployed has two community employment projects. The Leixlip community employment project has 15 participants and one supervisor. The Newbridge community employment project has 28 participants and two supervisors and is operated jointly from Newbridge and Athy. The total grant aid from FÁS in respect of the two community employment projects for 2005 is of the order of €600,000.
In addition to the community employment grant, FÁS provides grant aid to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Congress has sole responsibility regarding the internal distribution and the purposes for which this money is used within the centres. FÁS has no role in the administration of these grants.
