Responsibility for Community Employment Schemes transferred to the Department with effect from 1 January 2012. Since the transfer of Community Employment to the Department, DSP staff, including former FÁS staff, have been involved in a series of discussions with CE sponsors. These discussions have shown that while notionally focussed on activation, in reality Community Employment programmes deliver a range of services from childcare, healthcare, drugs support to environmental works.
The financial review of Community Employment (CE) Schemes is very near to completion. This review of CE Schemes has proved to be a valuable exercise for both the schemes themselves and for my Department.
Given the volume and breath of the data being returned, the financial review of CE schemes has taken longer than originally envisaged to complete. This has allowed more time for schemes to engage with local officials in the finalisation of their respective budgets and for my Department to bring forward improvements to the overall operation of Community Employment which will improve the budgetary situation for schemes.
The outcomes of this review will be communicated directly to CE sponsoring organisations by staff in my Department in the coming weeks.
While no final allocations of materials and training grants have been made pending completion of the financial review, the existing commitment in relation to the financial support of schemes will continue to apply. This has lessened the impact on schemes. My Department is committed to the continuing support of the Community Employment Programme and the valuable contribution the programme makes to individuals and communities.
