Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Mar 2006

Vol. 615 No. 6

Adjournment Debate.

Voluntary Housing.

Mr. Ó Fearghaíl

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important matter. Voluntary housing has been one of the success stories of the past decade and it is an area of activity with which I am proud to have been involved. We are living in a protracted period of unprecedented levels of housing construction and it is important not to lose sight of the important role played by the voluntary sector. More than 600 approved voluntary bodies manage almost 19,000 housing units under the capital assistance programme and the capital loan and rental subsidy schemes. The capital assistance scheme has been used to great advantage in providing for specialised housing such as sheltered housing and housing for those with special needs, the elderly and so on.

For the most part, the capital loan and rental subsidy scheme is used to address demand in the area of mainstream social housing accommodation. Voluntary housing associations have been established in every county and communities are benefiting from their endeavours. The varied nature of the bodies approved by the Department is interesting, ranging in scale from local conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or local community councils providing and managing a handful of properties to large associations such as Respond, which has delivered and is managing almost 3,500 units. It is important that Members should recognise, acknowledge and value the contribution of the sector not just to housing provision, but to community building.

I refer to two areas of concern for tenants of properties provided under the capital loan and rental subsidy scheme, namely the need to adjust the rent scheme where it applies at 18% of all household income and the need to introduce a tenant purchase scheme, similar to that available to local authority tenants. I have engaged with the Minister of State on this on previous occasions. In raising these issues, I am conscious of a number of relevant points, not least that in many areas, integrated housing developments on the same site are coming on stream involving the local authority, voluntary and private sectors. In addition, a number of councils are engaging the services of voluntary housing associations to deliver their own social housing programmes. Against this background it is important to recognise that those on local authority waiting lists who avail of tenancies from voluntary housing associations do so of necessity rather than by preference in the great majority of cases. If they do not avail of the voluntary association offer, they may often be left waiting indefinitely by their local authority. Consequently, tenants of an approved housing body may live next door, in an identical house, to a tenant of a local authority. Both originated from the same local authority waiting list and both houses are 100% funded by the Exchequer. More often than not, however, the tenant of the voluntary housing association pays a higher rent, as the scheme is fixed at 18% of household income whereas the differential schemes operated by local authorities tend to be more favourable to the tenants of council houses. For example, tenants of the Cill Urnaí housing association at Kilberry outside Athy pay 18% of their household income, whereas tenants of Athy Town Council, just down the road, avail of the differential rent scheme where the rent is based on 15% of the principal earner's income. This is hardly fair. It is something I hope the Minister can review.

The same principle of equity should apply in the area of tenant purchase. Take what has happened at Monasterevin in County Kildare for example. Here, the local voluntary housing association constructed an estate of 28 houses. Twenty of these houses were to be occupied by members of the association, namely, people who had come together some years previously to build the housing scheme with the active support of local community activists. These 20 prospective tenants had an on-going involvement in all aspects of the housing project. When the houses were complete, eight were allocated to tenants of Kildare County Council which subsequently allocated the houses to families from its waiting list, the same list from which the 20 voluntary members came originally.

Despite being involved from the start in the development of the housing scheme, the voluntary housing association tenants cannot avail of a purchase scheme, while their neighbouring council tenants can. To put it more bluntly, those who have used the capital loan and rental subsidy scheme as a self-help initiative have found themselves disadvantaged. This is unfair and unjust and requires attention.

While some of the larger voluntary housing associations oppose in principle the concept of a purchase scheme, we must remember that there was once a lobby which opposed the sale of council houses to their tenants. The introduction of a tenant purchase scheme would unleash a new dynamic in the voluntary sector and encourage an even greater level of provision. I urge the Minister to consider this matter.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. N. Ahern)

I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for raising this matter and I welcome the opportunity to outline the ongoing development of the voluntary housing sector and discuss the need to introduce a tenant purchase option. I know of the Deputy's interest and involvement in the voluntary sector and his deep commitment to it.

The provision of social housing by the sector is funded under two separate voluntary housing schemes, the capital assistance scheme providing special needs housing and the capital loan and subsidy scheme which provides family type accommodation. Approved bodies work in partnership with the relevant local authority in providing social rental accommodation. Support for the development of the voluntary and co-operative sector is being continued and this is reflected by the recently increased funding limits I announced and the new arrangements for the sector under consideration.

The capital loan and subsidy scheme is, for the most part, used to fund family type social housing. Rental income is used to defray the cost of management and maintenance and for the provision of a sinking fund to cater for more extensive refurbishment later in the lifetime of a project. Under the terms of the scheme, approved housing bodies are responsible for determining the rent payable by a tenant which is based on household and subsidiary income in the previous tax year. Approved bodies, however, have at their discretion flexibility to modify the application of the rents scheme.

Since the introduction of the capital loan and subsidy scheme in 1991 it has been considered that the sale of individual housing units could undermine the capacity and resources of voluntary housing bodies to manage and maintain their estates and continue to provide further housing projects to meet pressing needs. There are incentives for residents of more than one year's duration who wish to move on and become homeowners elsewhere, but this is not what the Deputy has in mind.

To have maximum impact and to make our housing policy more relevant, the Department published a policy framework document just before Christmas entitled Housing Policy Framework — Building Sustainable Communities. In that document it is proposed that consideration would be given, in consultation with the voluntary and co-operative sector, to pilot a tenant purchase scheme for some new voluntary homes under the scheme. As well as expanding the investment programme, the Government will implement a programme of reforms, aimed at improving service and ensuring that social housing is delivered in a way that is fair and efficient. The reforms, including bringing forward the necessary legislation, will involve implementation of a fair rents policy across all social housing tenures.

I have listened to the Deputy and have discussed the matter with him previously. We have brought forward our housing policy framework and are fleshing it out. Later this year we expect to announce a more detailed new housing policy. I have heard what the Deputy wants and suggests and other Members would like to see a tenant purchase scheme in the voluntary sector. We have announced we will do it on a pilot basis for some new schemes and are continuing discussions with the sector. I will examine the Deputy's request and see if we can move forward when we produce our policy document later in the year.

Infectious Diseases.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I sought this Adjournment debate on learning of the revelations in a study that shows a significant increase in TB infection in parts of Dublin. This has been highlighted and has caused serious concern. The increase shows the inadequate hospital treatment provision for TB patients in the wake of the grossly irresponsible closure of the chest and respiratory unit, commonly known as the TB unit, at Peamount Hospital. The Government facilitated that closure. There is an urgent need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children to outline the measures she will introduce to address this threat to public health.

According to the study carried out by Dr. Margaret Hannan, consultant clinical microbiologist at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, young working Irish men are increasingly at risk of contracting TB. The research looked at all of north Dublin and found evidence that people who had recently picked up the infection were young Irish-born males who were in employment and living in urban parts of Dublin. Margaret Hannan stated: "One of the things we found was that they were all living in certain areas and all drinking in certain pubs. That is indicative of poor TB control in the country and that could be the beginning of an epidemic outbreak."

There were 437 cases of TB provisionally notified in 2004. In 2003, 407 cases were notified and the figure for 2002 was 400. This is a very worrying trend and this is underlined by this latest study. Dr. Hannan has warned that there is a danger of an epidemic outbreak if urgent steps are not taken to control the disease. She says there is poor infrastructure in Ireland for the management, control and prevention of TB. She also said: "The closure of Peamount has taken away a service that was essential."

When the threat to close the TB unit at Peamount first arose, I wrote to the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin as follows:

I write to convey my concern at the decision of the Board of Peamount Hospital to discontinue Chest/Respiratory Services. I understand that it is intended that all chest hospital activity will cease from January 2004 and the services will be transferred to St. James Hospital.

You will already be aware that there is grave concern among staff and patients at the proposal to close the long-established and specialised TB ward at St. Ita's, Peamount. I have received very worrying representations from nurses' representatives and from a patient at Peamount. I believe they show clearly the excellent work done in this unit over many years and continuing to this day. There is particular concern that the special care provided to more vulnerable TB patients in Peamount could not be provided if the service is moved to St. James's.

I believe that this is not just a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority but, given the central role of Peamount in the treatment of TB in Ireland, is of national importance. Therefore I urge you to intervene directly to have the decision to cease Chest/Respiratory Services at Peamount reversed.

The Minister of State's colleague did not intervene and the unit at Peamount was allowed to close. The promised facilities at St. James's Hospital have not materialised and now we have a study showing an increased threat from tuberculosis. There is concern internationally at new and more virulent strains of tuberculosis. This is a very worrying situation and we are less well equipped today to deal with it than we were three years ago. I call on the Minister responsible to restore the unit at Peamount and to provide a national action plan to combat tuberculosis.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tá mé ag tabhairt freagra ar son an Tánaiste agus Aire Sláinte agus Leanaí, an Teachta Harney.

Deputy Ó Caoláin has called upon the Minister to act but she would have to embark on consultations with the Health Service Executive to address the issue. The Department has not, as yet, received the report referred to by Deputy Ó Caoláin. The Minister has asked the Health Service Executive to furnish a copy and it will be examined by the chief medical officer of the Department upon receipt. However, I understand from the executive that the data used in the report referred to by the Deputy is a number of years old. I and the Health Service Executive would like to reassure the public that there is no outbreak of tuberculosis in the north inner city area of Dublin and that there are no major concerns in this regard.

The Health Act 1947 and the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981, as amended, provide the legislative basis for the control of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, in Ireland. The Department's strategy in the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis is guided by the recommendations of the report of the working party on tuberculosis, published in 1996, which covers a wide range of issues, including epidemiology, surveillance, screening, preventative therapy, clinical management and laboratory diagnosis. Responsibility for the implementation of the recommendations rests with the Health Service Executive.

The future organisation and delivery of respiratory and tuberculosis services was examined by Comhairle na nOspidéal in a report published in July 2000. This report found that, in line with major advances in medical treatment, the optimal inpatient care of patients with respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis, is more appropriate to acute general hospitals, staffed by consultant respiratory physicians and other consultants and supported by an array of investigative facilities. While recognising the valuable role which Peamount Hospital had played for many years in the delivery of respiratory services, Comhairle na nOspidéal did not regard it as an appropriate location for the future treatment of tuberculosis patients, especially those requiring ventilation and specialised treatment for other illnesses, for example heart disease, HIV and so forth.

Comhairle na nOspidéal subsequently appointed a committee to advise on the implementation of the 2000 report. The report of this committee endorsed the recommendations in the 2000 report and it was adopted by Comhairle na nOspidéal in April 2003. Specifically, the committee recommended that Peamount Hospital should play an active role in the provision of a range of non-acute support services, including pulmonary rehabilitation, within the Health Service Executive south-western area. For example, it recommended that patients who have been treated in the nearby St. James's Hospital and other major acute hospitals and who require ongoing rehabilitative care could be transferred to Peamount Hospital for completion of their care. In addition, three specialist tuberculosis beds for multi-resistant and complex tuberculosis patients are due to open in the coming weeks in St. James's Hospital.

The Health Service Executive eastern regional area established a working group on tuberculosis services in the eastern region and respiratory services in the Health Service Executive south-western area. The group examined the options for the future management of tuberculosis, both acute and non-acute, in the eastern region. It also addressed and identified other respiratory services that might be appropriately delivered in Peamount Hospital, taking account of best practice. The group consisted of a respiratory physician, a specialist nurse and the director of nursing from Peamount, a management representative from the hospital, general practitioners, a public health specialist and an accident and emergency representative. The group reported to the Health Service Executive eastern region in early 2005. It endorsed the recommendations of the working party report of 1996 and the subsequent Comhairle na nOspidéal report.

Natural Gas Network.

Mr. Gogarty

Having raised the issue of Peamount Hospital on a number of occasions, this report needs to be examined in detail because there is an issue regarding the treatment of chronic, recurrent sufferers of tuberculosis as opposed to those who would tend to present in St. James's Hospital. However, there are a number of national issues of concern and I have given a commitment to raise a different one.

I ask the Ministers of State, Deputies Killeen and Brian Lenihan, to urge the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to arrange for an audit of every domestic gas installation in the country, particularly those connected by Bord Gáis Éireann, at least from the meter to the house. That might sound like a massive undertaking but if it is not done, the Government could be guilty of failing to prevent unnecessary gas explosions which could occur anywhere in a grotesque lottery of death. Information has been brought to my attention in this regard and I would like to see immediate action.

Just over a year ago, on 3 February 2005, I highlighted the issue of the certification of people who install natural gas systems and the need to have accredited professionals working in this area. I referred to issues regarding the types of flux used, some of which corrode gas pipes, and the need for people working with such material to know exactly what they are doing. The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, in his reply, promised that an energy miscellaneous provisions Bill would be published and the matters raised would be dealt with in that context.

In reply to parliamentary questions I tabled, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, indicated that the new legislation would provide for a scheme of regulation specifically aimed at gas installers. Such a scheme is supposed to ensure that all future work on natural gas fittings will conform to the appropriate standards and make it unlawful for any person who is not a certified natural gas installer to work on a natural gas fitting. We still await that legislation and I urge the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to bring it forward at the earliest opportunity. However, I will take their word in good faith that they will deal with the matters I raised previously.

There is now a more pressing issue with regard to natural gas installations. I contend, having spoken to a number of experts in this field, that there is an urgent need to carry out an audit of our domestic gas network to ensure that pipe work and other equipment adheres to the highest international standards, that a proper certification system is in place for the people installing and repairing gas systems and, most importantly, that the clear and present risk to residents using natural gas is minimised before an avoidable tragedy occurs owing to defective equipment being installed in many homes. Defective equipment has been installed in many homes.

In my constituency one of the fastest growing towns in the country, Lucan, has tens of thousands of new dwellings. In Dublin Mid-West, including Lucan and Clondalkin, there are tranches of new houses, all of which had gas systems installed, generally just after the houses were purchased. Until recently, the body responsible for connecting the gas was Bord Gáis Éireann. Now I believe, and the Minister of State can correct me if I am wrong, private contractors are doing this work, which removes liability from Bord Gáis Éireann but does not remove the issues related to safety.

For the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of installations connected by Bord Gáis Éireann over the years an issue has come to light with regard to the insulation of the gas pipe work, even that small section going from the meter to the house. If even one inch of gas pipe work is left exposed, without insulation but under concrete, it will corrode over time. Concrete is a highly corrosive material and if the pipe corrodes, the gas will travel out the quickest way possible. Sometimes it will go into the house, other times it will travel up sewage pipes. The nature of gas is such that it needs to rise to the surface and when gas builds up to certain levels, at a given temperature and within a specific space, it can lead to an explosion.

There are a large number of gas pipe work installations that are not properly insulated because they have been done shoddily. Bord Gáis Éireann is responsible for this, as are the building contractors. I have a number of documents, one of which indicates non-conformance for a gas pipe to a gas fire, with the pipe not protected against corrosion. I have another user safety notice for a gas pipe where the meter entering the house is not protected against corrosion. These are just examples of tens of thousands of installations throughout the country that are not protected against corrosion. If only one of those houses has a gas leak because of this corrosion and it leads to an explosion that kills one person, that is one person too many. Every installation, particularly from the meter to the house and possibly inside the house, where appropriate, needs to be looked at as a matter of urgency before someone dies as a result of negligence.

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

I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. I fully appreciate Deputy Gogarty's motivation for raising this issue, as the safety of domestic natural gas consumers and the public in general is of paramount importance. However, the Minister has been advised by the Department's chief technical adviser and by Bord Gáis Éireann that as the pipeline contains gas not a liquid, there is no requirement for thermal insulation on any pipework from the meter to the house. The Minister has been advised that the lack of insulation has no implications for the safety of installations.

Having said that, the Minister wholeheartedly agrees that it is necessary that we as legislators and public representatives ensure that safety is placed high on the political agenda. In that context, I advise Deputies that the Government has this week approved the publication and initiation in this House of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006. Among the provisions of the Bill are, inter alia, expanding the functions of the Commission for Energy Regulation to include: the regulation of the activities of natural gas undertakings and natural gas installers, with respect to safety; the promotion of natural gas safety; consultation with the National Standards Authority of Ireland regarding gas safety standards; and the establishment and implementation of a natural gas safety framework.

The natural gas safety provisions will empower the Commission for Energy Regulation to direct natural gas undertakings to advise their customers and the public as to natural gas safety and regulate the standards of training of gas installers in regard to gas safety. The Minister looks forward to the support of Deputies in bringing the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to enactment when introduced to the House.

I will detail, for the benefit of the House, the statutory remit of Bord Gáis Éireann in regard to gas safety which will give more assurance as to the robust nature of the safety regime. Under its parent legislation, the Gas Act 1976, Bord Gáis Éireann is required to have regard for such safety requirements as are, in its opinion, necessary for the transmission and distribution of natural gas. Further functions were conferred on Bord Gáis Éireann under SI No. 238 of 1987, made under section 2(1)(c) of the Gas (Amendment) Act 1987 to ensure the safety of the public. Article 8 of that order requires that Bord Gáis Éireann refuse to supply gas, or refuse to continue to supply gas, if it is of the opinion that it would give rise to an abnormal risk affecting safety. The order also obliges Bord Gáis Éireann to exercise at all times the practices and standards of a prudent gas undertaking and to have regard to relevant international standards and practices. The standards in use in Ireland are consistent with the latest relevant CEN, European Committee for Standardisation, and ISO, International Organisation for Standardisation, standards.

Bord Gáis Éireann has established a comprehensive safety assurance programme, which enables the company to meet its obligations with respect to safety under this legislation. Gas is supplied only to installations that meet the requirements of this programme, one of which is that the installer has demonstrated the necessary competence in safe installations by completing the relevant FÁS course or holding an equivalent qualification. For quality assurance purposes, a quota of installations is inspected randomly after natural gas has been supplied. Where an installation is completed by an installer who is not registered with Bord Gáis Éireann, a mandatory inspection must take place before Bord Gáis Éireann will supply gas to the premises. This system is regularly audited.

The gas safety provisions in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will provide a statutory underpinning for this safety programme. It will also create an offence where certain works relating to gas installations are carried out by unregistered installers leaving such installers open to prosecution and the full rigour of the law.

Such new and important safety measures underline the Government's commitment to further enhancing the safety of natural gas consumers and the public and ensuring that Ireland continues to meet international best practice in regard to natural gas safety.

Mr. Gogarty

How can that happen because of the concrete? Will that be dealt with?

Community Employment Schemes.

Mr. Lowry

I welcome the opportunity to raise this important issue which is affecting participants and sponsoring groups the length and breadth of the country. Since its introduction in November 2004, the Government policy of capping FÁS community employment schemes has led to the termination of placements for hundreds of participants in County Tipperary. It is expected that 700 community employment workers will effectively be made redundant in Tipperary before the end of this year.

I urge the Minister to take immediate steps to remove this draconian and unnecessary cap on the scheme. Given the healthy state of the economy, using community employment participants as a cost saving to the State is unjust, unfair and an example of the downright meanness displayed by the Government. It is an abuse of power against these vulnerable people.

The participants on community employment schemes are involved in completing valuable work for the community. Many community groups, sporting organisations and tidy towns committees, could not undertake their worthwhile projects were it not for the crucial assistance of community employment participants. The scheme has played a very important role in improving community life across Tipperary and it is astonishing that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, is determined to close down community employment schemes by stealth. As a result of this clampdown, many talented and deserving people will lose the opportunity to contribute to their communities in a meaningful way. Local communities are losing out on important and desirable schemes.

Many participants work in the community as personal assistants to severely disabled people. They work with young and old alike, they work in sports clubs, town councils, community development groups, in fact, the list is endless. It is a shameful indictment of this Government that community employment participants are under-estimated, undervalued and under-appreciated by the Minister and the Government.

Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats want to bring the hatchet down on community employment schemes without even a thought for the needs of either participants or the sponsoring projects. For the thousands of community and voluntary groups the removal of participants and the closure of schemes is a devastating blow. Groups are relying on community employment schemes to provide a level of staffing for certain tasks. If the Government is so intent on ending community employment schemes, an alternative source of staffing for community and voluntary groups will have to be found and funded by the Government.

The Minister should be aware of the impact of the capping policy on schemes in Tipperary. For example, in Annacarty the community employment scheme had 12 participants, but when the Minister, Deputy Martin, is finished with his axe it will be halved to six. The Clonoulty-Rossmore scheme had 16 participants but has been reduced to ten. The scheme operating in Cappawhite and Hollyford had 20 participants but with these savage cutbacks it will be reduced to ten. In south Tipperary, 82 people were effectively made redundant in January. Another 150 will lose their place on a scheme at the end of March. In total more than 300 people will lose a place on a community employment scheme in south Tipperary by the end of this year. In north Tipperary, during the course of the next 12 months, 411 people will lose these places on schemes. These staggering figures mean that community employment scheme numbers in County Tipperary will be more than halved before the year is out.

I have received numerous calls from community employment participants, many in their early or late fifties, who have been informed they are no longer needed on a scheme. Community employment schemes in Glengoole, Rathcabbin, Killenaule, and all across Tipperary are losing participants each week. It is outrageous that men and women who have served the community well on these community employment schemes are effectively being forced to retire early. These people feel there is little prospect of their getting any form of meaningful and productive employment.

Several of those who contacted me outlined that they had no transport of their own, and given their age, felt they had little hope of getting any other form of employment in the area. In the increasingly competitive marketplace, many people on community employment schemes have told me the scheme is the only form of work available to them.

There are schemes in Tipperary facing such uncertainty that some supervisors have informed me that their schemes could close before the end of the year. No scheme in Tipperary should be closed, wound down, or have participant numbers reduced. I urge the Government to immediately abolish the current policy of capping the number of years a person can participate on a community employment scheme and I seek the Minister's commitment that those participants affected will be swiftly reinstated.

Immediate changes must be made to the scheme to bring to an end the policy of capping. I urge the Minister to immediately reinstate those affected by this nonsensical capping rule. I further urge that if the community employment scheme is to be abolished by stealth, as current policy and practice would suggest, the Government should provide funding for an alternative source of staffing for the thousands of community and voluntary groups that have been adversely affected by this ridiculous capping policy.

Mr. Killeen

The primary purpose of community employment as an active labour market programme is to reintegrate long-term unemployed persons into open labour market jobs. CE provides unemployed people with temporary opportunities whereby they can develop their skills and obtain a recent track record of work experience.

FÁS continues to develop the content of the CE programme. The new approach involves the introduction of an individual learner plan process focused on meeting the learning needs of participants. The individual learner plan provides for the planning, organising and recording of the work experience, training and development that each participant receives while working on CE. It also includes further training and development for supervisors, a new application process and quality assurance procedures. The new approach should provide substantial benefits to FÁS clients and give increased value for the training budget invested.

In 1999 the community employment programme was restructured to limit participation by new participants to three years, with effect from April 2000. This change was introduced to encourage unemployed persons to progress to training, education and employment where possible. However, this three-year cap was amended in August 2001 to allow particularly disadvantaged persons to remain on the programme for a further period. In general, approximately 20% of participants, including persons less than 55 years of age, have benefited from an additional year on the programme under the flexibility guidelines introduced in August 2001.

On foot of a review of FÁS employment schemes, which included detailed consultations with social partners, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced changes to community employment and other employment schemes with effect from 10 November 2004. The change to the community employment programme removed the three-year cap for persons aged 55 or older. This change means that over-55s are now eligible to participate on community employment for a maximum of five years. In the case of persons advancing beyond 55 years during their normal period of service on CE, participation can also be extended for up to a maximum of six years. The new arrangements were designed to address the particular difficulty of finding replacements to participate in community employment schemes in certain rural areas. They also help to secure the continuity of community services generally.

Combined with the rural social scheme, under the aegis of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, which provides 2,500 places, the existing community service support framework is therefore being maintained. The current ring-fencing and prioritisation procedures for the essential services of child care, health related services and drugs task force clients are also being maintained. For those aged under 55, the normal service of up to three years maximum has continued to apply, subject to the current flexibility guidelines I mentioned earlier which allow for an additional year of participation. The continuation of ring-fencing and the extended participation on CE by older workers help to secure the continuity of community services generally and ensure that the existing community service support framework will be maintained.

In addition to the changes introduced on CE, it was also announced in November 2004 that participants remaining on job initiative will have their contracts renewed annually. Participants who leave the programme voluntarily are, where practicable, replaced by CE participants to support the service being provided. It was also announced that 25,000 places would be available annually on FÁS employment programmes which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative. The figures at the end of last year showed that the total number of places on the three programmes was approximately 26,000. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has recently taken over responsibility for the social economy programme which has been renamed the community services programme.

This Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. In this regard, we are keeping the operation of the community employment scheme under constant review.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.25 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 7 March 2006.