Vol. 514 No. 6
119 Mr. Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will clarify her proposals regarding the number of places on community employment schemes for 2000; the number of places to be transferred to the social economy; the employers eligible to recruit participants in the social economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4846/00]
Based on a budget of £287 million, the targeted average participation rate on the community employment programme for 2000 is 35,520. This represents a reduction of 2,400 on the average level of participation in 1999. It is expected that the social economy programme will provide for an average of 670, full-time equivalent, places this year. The amount of funding allocated in the social economy programme, £10 million in 2000, is expected to increase to an annual level of up to £41 million as the programme becomes established. In this respect provision is made in the National Development Plan 2000-2006 for up to £213 million for the social economy programme with the objective of creating employment for 2,500 people.
