Richard Bruton
Ceist:130 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if applications under the community employment development programme have been terminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Community Employment Development Fund.
Tony Gregory
Ceist:132 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the position of the CEDP in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress areas; if unemployed participants will be obliged to revert to social employment schemes, thus losing their secondary benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Seán Haughey
Ceist:138 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he issued a directive to cease CEDP applications organised through FÁS; if so, the reasons therefor; and if he will reconsider this matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 132 and 138 together.
Having reconsidered my earlier decision regarding the future of the Community Employment Development Programme, which was introduced on a pilot basis along with other measures in the 12 partnership areas established under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, I am pleased to say that the programme will now continue as planned.
The operation of the Programme and the other special measures will be evaluated in due course to assess their effectiveness in assisting long term unemployed persons.