Community Employment Schemes.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2005

Tuesday, 17 May 2005

Ceisteanna (205, 206)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

202 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons on community employment schemes in each county from 1997 to 2004; the number of persons expected to be on community employment schemes by the end of 2005 in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16387/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

The following tabular statement gives the numbers of participants on community employment, CE, schemes on a county-by-county basis for the period 1997 to 16 May 2005. I am informed by FÁS that it anticipates that the distribution of places on a county-by-county basis at end December 2005 will be broadly consistent with the existing spread.

Community Employment Participants by County

	2005*	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997
Carlow	308	333	302	421	470	501	519	585	581
Cavan	255	267	222	301	358	402	455	508	474
Clare	544	561	534	762	970	949	1,016	1,015	1,059
Cork	1,983	2,059	2,011	2,412	3,190	3,526	3,897	4,434	4,245
Donegal	1,110	1,066	963	1,165	1,338	1,340	1,480	1,643	1,520
Dublin	5,543	5,615	4,795	5,962	7,397	8,377	8,928	9,624	9,553
Galway	1,352	1,358	1,248	1,607	1,980	2,006	2,143	2,292	2,263
Kerry	897	897	789	1,052	1,301	1,329	1,422	1,478	1,452
Kildare	613	601	573	700	836	988	1,084	1,198	1,256
Kilkenny	377	399	360	461	561	576	651	672	648
Laois	318	344	264	350	423	530	563	535	613
Leitrim	148	144	129	195	232	288	288	403	358
Limerick	1,184	1,212	1,172	1,407	1,698	1,842	1,991	2,106	2,018
Longford	302	313	246	332	358	381	423	519	528
Louth	699	726	629	783	980	1,104	1,212	1,364	1,318
Mayo	765	765	737	993	1,273	1,523	1,653	1,656	1,646
Meath	392	389	317	430	561	571	718	773	988
Monaghan	354	338	280	342	415	491	581	601	579
Offaly	363	394	311	388	490	470	599	559	590
Roscommon	272	264	211	287	348	319	410	538	586
Sligo	415	422	428	469	549	615	667	732	708
Tipperary	1,037	1,077	970	1,228	1,479	1,481	1,460	1,651	1,564
Waterford	549	598	516	610	762	894	946	956	946
Westmeath	486	541	457	532	633	776	895	840	595
Wexford	769	821	737	996	1,186	1,242	1,310	1,453	1,430
Wicklow	649	690	647	806	1,021	1,028	1,268	1,385	1,521
	21,674	22,194	19,848	24,991	30,809	33,549	36,579	39,520	39,039

*Figures as at May 16 2005. All other figures given at year end.

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

203 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16388/05]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Martin)

Community employment, CE, provides work experience and training opportunities for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups with the aim of assisting participants to progress to jobs in the open labour market. The number of participants on CE nationally increased from 19,848 in January 2004 to 22,194 at end December 2004.

I am informed by FÁS that the rate of progression to employment for CE participants in 2002 was 41%; the corresponding rate in 2003 was 46%. Data on progression rates for 2004 have not yet been finalised by FÁS. The progression rates mentioned demonstrate the strong contribution of CE programmes in assisting very disadvantaged persons to take up employment in the open labour market.

On foot of a review of FÁS employment schemes, which included detailed consultations with the social partners, I decided that with effect from 10 November 2004 the three-year cap would be removed for CE participants aged 55 or over. This category of participants is now eligible to participate on CE for a maximum of six years. The extension of the participation period from three to six years for over-55s should ensure that there will be sufficient clients to fill the available places and will help to secure the continuity of community services generally. FÁS employment programmes, which comprise CE, social economy and job initiative, will provide over 25,000 places in 2005.

Question No. 204 answered with QuestionNo. 198.