Community Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010

Wednesday, 29 September 2010

Ceisteanna (45)

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

133 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the possibility of increasing the number of personnel involved in community type work through FÁS or any other structure in view of the fact that there are now almost 440,000 persons unemployed; if she agrees with the fact that it would not only be in the interests of the participants to have the opportunity to work 19 to 20 hours per week, but it would also improve the services available to the elderly, disabled and communities in general; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28662/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Seán Haughey)

The aim of the Community Employment Programme (CE) remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills.

Within current budgetary constraints, the number of places on CE have been increased to 23,300 in 2010. In delivering these places, FÁS will continue to operate flexibly in the management of this allocation in order to maximise progression to the labour market while at the same time facilitating the support of community services.