Vol. 568 No. 5
333 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the impact on the Irish Wheelchair Association of the impact of the failure to mainstream community employment workers, combined with the three year cap on participation in community employment schemes, resulting in half of the positions being lost to a group (details supplied); and if he will take steps to overcome this. [16409/03]
337 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Irish Wheelchair Association can be assisted with its problems regarding community employment schemes (details supplied); and if day care centres will not be closed. [16459/03]
358 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will liaise with the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to allow the Irish Wheelchair Association to retain its current placement of 417 community employment workers (details supplied). [16769/03]
365 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to incorporate health care workers employed and trained under community employment schemes for the Irish Wheelchair Association as mainstream workers under his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16921/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 333, 337, 358 and 365 together.
Sufficient funding is not available in 2003 for the mainstreaming of community employment scheme participants engaged in the delivery of health and personal social services. I am aware the three year cap on participation in CE schemes is affecting the delivery of health and social services by some sponsor agencies and, in the absence of the additional funding required this year for mainstreaming, my Department has been in contact with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with a view to examining the possibility of lifting the three year cap on participants involved in health related projects.
