Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2012
39. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if the issue of secondary payments to community employment scheme workers will be revisited; specifically if a projects long term viability comes under threat the steps she will take to ensure that such an occurrence will not happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54595/12]
View answerThe Department is committed to enhancing the viability of CE, including the support for the delivery of services, value for money and the progression of participants. The broad policy direction for CE in 2013 and future years will be based on the main action points detailed in the CE Financial Review recently published by the Department. In general the objective is to assist schemes develop more focused actions that will enhance their capacity to meet the objectives of CE sponsors and participants. Future funding of employment programmes, particularly CE, will reinforce the key objectives required by the Department. This will require a more focused engagement with people on programmes such as CE and a greater targeting of activation places and opportunities to further the progression of unemployed people into work.
