Donal Moynihan
Ceist:19 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment the efforts, if any, that are being made to co-ordinate the community employment scheme with the Tidy Towns competition. [8397/95]
Written Answers. - Community Employment Programme.
David Andrews
Ceist:98 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for the Environment the efforts, if any, that are being made to co-ordinate the community employment scheme with the Tidy Towns competition. [8447/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 98 together.
Arrangements at local level, which may involve the community employment programme, are primarily a matter for each individual Tidy Towns committee. However, my Department's information booklet on the competition draws committees' attention to the potential assistance the programme can give to their efforts. Indeed, committees have for a number of years made extensive use of community employment and other FÁS employment programmes; this reflects the fact that the kinds of projects which may be availed of under these programmes are particularly suitable to the activities of Tidy Towns committees. I understand that some 30 per cent of those engaged under the community employment programme are engaged on various environmental improvement projects sponsored by local authorities or by voluntary and community groups, including Tidy Towns committees.