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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Nov 2003

Vol. 575 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Paddy McHugh

Ceist:

88 Mr. McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if reviews of community employment being carried out by her Department as referred to in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 86 of 6 November 2003, are complete; the outcome of the reviews; the likely effect those reviews will have on the numbers engaged in community employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28806/03]

The community employment review process, which is ongoing, is due to be concluded shortly. The Government has decided in the context of the 2004 Estimates that there will be no reduction in the number of places to be supported under the community employment programme next year. The number of places will not drop below the target level of 20,000 for the end of 2003. The total allocation for the CE, JI and social economy programmes has been fixed at €351 million, which will support up to 25,000 places across the three schemes. FÁS is being given some flexibility in the management of the financial allocation in order to maximise progression to the labour market, while facilitating the support of community services. The commitment to fund a continuing pool of up to 25,000 places across the three schemes brings clarity to the levels of activity which will be supported and will enable FÁS to give a clear commitment to the support of local community services.

In deciding the 2004 financial allocation for the schemes, the Government was informed by the work to date of the cross-departmental senior officials group. Although the total financial envelope for the schemes has been fixed, the views of the Standing Committee on the Labour Market on the review of active labour market programmes, when completed, and the eventual outcome of the review of the social economy programme will be taken into account in considering adjustments in the structure and the terms and conditions of the labour market measures in the future.

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