Vol. 557 No. 1
146 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the resources her Department will provide to allow community employment scheme workers to be replaced with properly paid, full-time or part-time workers. [21175/02]
There are currently in the region of 25,000 participants on community employment, CE, schemes providing a range of services across the country. The primary purpose of the CE programme is to provide long-term unemployed persons with the necessary skills and confidence to take up employment in the open labour market. In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure CE, participation levels are gradually being reduced in line with reduced levels of long-term unemployment and a strategic shift in policy in favour of training and other more appropriate supports.
The Government is very much aware of the important contribution which CE has made to the development of services for local communities over the years. In this context a cross-departmental senior officials group has been asked to consider options for the future of CE taking account of the link with the provision of community services. The outcome of these deliberations will help to inform the Government's consideration of options for the future of CE and the provision of community services, as will the outcome of Government consideration of the 2003 Estimates.
147 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if community employment places in residential addiction rehabilitation centres have been ringfenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21409/02]
Community employment places that provide services under the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 are ringfenced, including services in certain residential addiction rehabilitation centres where CE is in operation. Overall, approximately 800 CE places are currently dedicated to providing labour market services to persons recovering from drug misuse.
