Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2009
78 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if specific drug community employment schemes have been introduced on foot of the report of the working group on drugs rehabilitation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23047/09]
View answerThe role of FÁS in relation to the National Drugs Strategy is to facilitate the rehabilitation of stabilised drug users and to prepare them to re-enter the active labour market through focused training which will enable them to re-integrate into working life. This is being achieved through participation in a range of FÁS programmes, including Community Employment (CE), and also integration into mainline training aimed at progression into the active labour market.
FÁS aims to promote labour market re-integration through targeted and mainstream initiatives including guidance and support from the referral point which is the FÁS Employment Services/Local Employment Services and pre-CE initiatives to support stabilisation.
Currently, there are 1,000 ring fenced places for drug users on Community Employment based in approximately 100 rehabilitative schemes. In addition, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to implement the recommendation of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation to increase the number of places on specific Drug Rehabilitation Community Employment schemes.
