Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Jackie Healy-Rae

Ceist:

160 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will reconsider the proposed reduction in FÁS community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15384/02]

John Gormley

Ceist:

170 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will reconsider the cutbacks in community employment schemes in view of the serious dissatisfaction in community groups and individuals who have benefited from such schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15640/02]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

173 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position in regard to various social employment schemes which have been terminated or are about to be; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16146/02]

Michael Ring

Ceist:

177 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding community employment workers who are currently in projects but who may not be ready to take up formal employment in the newly mainstreamed positions; and if voluntary organisations will be given adequate resources to ensure the new jobs are on a par with similar posts in the relevant statutory agency. [16286/02]

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

182 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will terminate the cuts in community employment schemes in view of the severe impact they are having on people as well as essential social services. [16548/02]

Charlie O'Connor

Ceist:

183 Mr. O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she acknowledges the problems being created in community centres throughout Dublin south west, arising from the changing situation in respect of community employment schemes; if she acknowledges the worth of these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16549/02]

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

188 Mr. Gregory asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a commitment has been given to ring fence community employment schemes in local drug task force areas and RAPID areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16819/02]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey):

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 160, 170, 173, 177, 182, 183 and 188 together.

In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure community employment, CE, participation levels are gradually being reduced, reflecting the significant reduction in the numbers of the long-term unemployed and the shift in emphasis away from work experience programmes to training, from which there is a greater level of progression to employment. The National Employment Service is available to assist participants as they finish their term on CE to source employment in the open labour market or to avail of further education or training opportunities available locally. The 2002 year end participation rate is expected to be in the region of 25,000.

The allocation of places to individual projects is a matter for FÁS. FÁS prioritises projects according to the types of services provided and levels of unemployment in the locality, and co-ordinates reductions so as to minimise the negative effects on groups and services most in need of CE. Drugs task force activity and child care service provision are ring fenced from any reductions and projects in RAPID areas are given top priority. CE schools services currently being mainstreamed and health services that are being considered for mainstreaming are not being reduced pending mainstreaming taking place.

Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department, the Department of Health and Children, health boards and FÁS on the question of mainstreaming certain CE health sector places. These discussions have not yet concluded.

I accept that a range of valued community services have been provided with the support of CE, and consequently the reduction in the level of CE places available has implications for the ongoing provision of these services. In this context, FÁS is currently undertaking an internal review of CE, which will include an assessment of the role of the programme in regard to the provision of community services. The PPF mandated review of active labour market programmes is also being progressed under the aegis of the standing committee on the labour market, chaired by my Department. In addition, a cross-departmental senior officials group has been asked to consider options for the future of CE and the provision of community services. The outcome of these various initiatives will inform the Government's consideration of options for the future delivery of community services and appropriate levels of CE for the future.