Vol. 524 No. 1
43 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the future status of the provision of community employment schemes which provide personal assistance services to the disabled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21646/00]
The community employment programme was restructured during 1999 to take account of the fall in unemployment levels and to better target available places at older long-term unemployed persons. As part of this process and in consultation with the social partners a decision was taken to gradually reduce the numbers employed on CE. In this context it is necessary for FÁS, as the operational agency for the programme, to prioritise projects according to needs. FÁS currently gives priority to "caring-support" projects based in the community and voluntary sector, including services for disabled persons.
My Department, in the context of the commitment under section 4.2.4 of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, has initiated discussions with the Department of Health and Children with a view to determining the potential to mainstream services currently being delivered through CE to persons with disabilities. According to information received from FÁS, there are currently some 1,900 CE participants engaged in the provision of services to the disabled at a cost of approximately £15 million.
Proposals on the mainstreaming of CE services for disabled persons will be discussed with the social partners as soon as possible within the framework of the PPF Standing Committee on the Labour Market.
