Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.
Finian McGrath
Ceist:
238
Mr. F. McGrath
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if she will urgently intervene to assist the community employment and job initiative schemes (details supplied); and if maximum support and assistance will be given to Donnycarney Unemployed Action Group.
[19591/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:
240
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if her attention has been drawn to the statements made in the Government's progress report regarding community employment schemes; if, in relation to those statements, her attention has further been drawn to the number of schemes that have closed since she was appointed; if so, if she will list those schemes; the number of people who have lost their community employment places since she was appointed; and the number of people who have been thus affected by her closure of community employment schemes.
[19612/03]
Seán Crowe
Ceist:
242
Mr. Crowe
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if her attention has been drawn to the large number of redundancies which took place over the summer 2003; if her attention has further been drawn to the loss of 15 community employment and job initiative jobs in MACRO in the north inner city of Dublin; her plans to provide assistance to maintain the services to the community these persons were supplying; and if she will reconsider the Government's decision to cut community employment schemes at a time of rising unemployment when there is increasing demand for the services provided by them.
[19710/03]
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:
253
Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
the number of participants in community employment schemes in County Kerry; the number for each year from 1999 to 2003; the position regarding a review of the number of participants in community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20206/03]
Charlie O'Connor
Ceist:
266
Mr. O'Connor
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if she will make a statement in regard to plans to deal positively with concerns being expressed in many communities regarding community employment and other schemes; and her views on the need for these schemes.
[20733/03]
Olwyn Enright
Ceist:
267
Ms Enright
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if she will meet with the Offaly Community Employment Network which has sought a meeting with her to discuss the damaging negative impacts of the cutbacks in places on the community employment programmes in County Offaly and the long roll over period between programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[20734/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 240, 242, 253, 266 and 267 together.
The community employment and job initiative programmes are currently under review. The PPF provides for an overall appraisal of active labour market programmes to be carried out and this work is being undertaken under the aegis of the standing committee on the labour market which is chaired by my Department. In addition, an interdepartmental senior officials group has been asked to consider options for the future of community employment taking account of the link with the provision of community services. FÁS is completing an internal review of community employment and the job initiative programmes which is well advanced and should be finalised shortly. A decision on the future funding and structure of community employment and the job initiative scheme will be taken in the context of the Estimates provision for 2004, having regard to the outcome of the current review process, which is now nearing completion.
An average participation rate in the region of 2,466 during 2003 and a year-end participation rate of 2,200 are targeted on job initiative schemes. Overall, there will be a reduction of 325 places on a phased basis this year. Participants exiting JI may avail of the high supports process which is designed to provide a flexible response for persons experiencing barriers in progressing from unemployment to employment in the open labour market and may also avail of the FÁS local employment services with a view to securing further training or employment.
The average participation rate on the CE programme is expected to be in the region of 22,500 during 2003 with a projected year-end participation rate of 20,000. The allocation of places on a county-by-county basis and renewal of individual projects is a matter for FÁS. Projects are prioritised based on the services provided. Drugs task force activity and childcare service provision are ring-fenced from any reductions and projects in RAPID areas are given priority. CE places in the health sector which includes personal assistant services are being maintained at existing levels to ensure continuity of the delivery of these services.
The level of participation on CE since 1999 is as follows:
|
1999
|
36,579
|
|
2000
|
33,549
|
|
2001
|
30,809
|
|
2002
|
24,991
|
|
2003
|
20,000
|
The number of CE projects has reduced from 2,274 in 1999 to 1,503 projects currently. In many cases projects have amalgamated into new entities allowing the activity to continue on a smaller scale. With regard to the current redundancy position, the level of notified redundancies last year was 25,348. This year to end August 2003, 17,590 redundancies have been notified to my Department, down by 0.5% on the same period last year. It is also worthwhile noting that the reduction in the level of places available on CE has taken place in a labour market environment where the number of long-term unemployed which are a key target group has reduced dramatically, from 103,300, 7.1%, in April 1996 down to 26,900, 1.4%, in April 2003.
Over the past year I have met with many public representatives and community groups from many counties, including Kerry and Offaly, and I am very aware of the importance of employment programmes to both urban and rural communities. The Government will continue to support the positive role of community employment in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons and in the provision of essential services within such communities.
