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Employment Support Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 November 2019

Tuesday, 12 November 2019

Questions (534, 535)

Micheál Martin

Question:

534. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will report on the future of the employment support services at a centre (details supplied) in view of the fact that the grounds are for sale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46199/19]

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Micheál Martin

Question:

535. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that lands (details supplied) in County Cork are now for sale; her alternative plans for the community employment and job initiative schemes that are provided there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46201/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together.

Bessborough Community Employment, (CE), and Bessborough Job Initiative, (JI) have been in-situ and supporting the Bessborough Centre over the past 35 years and 29 years respectively.  Currently, there are 23 Community Employment participants, 9 Job Initiative participants and 2 Supervisors employed by the Bessborough Community Employment Scheme and the Bessborough Job Initiative located at the Bessborough Centre.

The CE scheme and the Jobs Initiative provide services to the Bessborough Centre which include:   maintenance of buildings, grounds and facilities; the provision of parenting assistance in the Residential Parent and Infant Unit;  the provision of early years practitioners in the Centre’s Childcare facility; and the provision of significant administrative support to the entire Centre’s campus and services.

The Jobs Initiative scheme, who have been involved in the services since 1991, provides full-time support in security, janitorial services, office management and administration to the Centre. Furthermore, the Bessborough Centre JI scheme also provides administrative support to other community groups located away from the Centre.  These include Foroige, Enable Ireland and two Community Associations.

DEASP funds both the CE scheme and JI scheme annually with a budget in excess of €552,000.00 to the Bessborough Centre that covers Wages, Materials and Training costs associated with both of these schemes.  This equates to a substantial investment over the past 35 years in support of the infrastructure and services at the Bessborough Centre.  Other Government funding for services is provided through TUSLA, Cork Education and Training Board, the HSE and Pobal.

Local DEASP management are currently working closely with the Bessborough Centre CE and JI scheme sponsors to ensure continuity of CE and JI funding and ongoing delivery of the associated services.

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