Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2014
41. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to detail the cost of restoring by 50% the cut in funding that has resulted in a reduction in training and materials grants for community employment scheme, back to education and jobs initiative schemes introduced since the Government came to office; the cost of fully restoring the funding cuts outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36272/14]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) schemes have achieved significant efficiencies over the past 2 years in their administration (circa €11m per annum). Where there have been individual cases that warranted further attention, these were reviewed at a local level and adjustments made where the circumstances permitted. The Department continues to monitor expenditure in line with the programme’s operational guidelines. As the Deputy may be aware, an additional €1.3m was allocated to the CE training budget in 2013 in order to support the provision of training to participants. The CE Financial Review of Schemes in 2012 highlighted that schemes could still operate efficiently and effectively with better targeting of funding and improvements in the administration of the schemes required by the Department.
Under the revised funding arrangements agreed with sponsors, schemes were given individual allocations of financial support aimed at meeting the particular costs necessarily incurred by them, having regard to economies made by the scheme and to the overall level of funding available for community employment nationally.
Please note that there are 2,000 more places on CE now than in 2012 with an increase in the CE annual budget increased from €352m in 2013 to €357m in 2014.
Job Initiative is closed to new entrants since November 2004 and the programme budget is reducing in line with the decreasing participant numbers via exits and retirements. There are currently 1,051 participants and Team Leaders on the JI programme. Over the past 2 years the JI programme has achieved efficiencies in the administration of the order of €2m per annum.
The cost of education allowance that formed part of Back to Education Allowance was reduced from €500 to €300 in 2012 and abolished the following year from January 2013. This amounted to a reduction in expenditure of circa €7.8m.
