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Community Employment Schemes Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Ceisteanna (115, 337, 359)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

115. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the impact of community employment scheme cutbacks in 2012; the number of schemes closed or that had hours reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49876/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

337. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for community employment schemes in budget 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49976/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

359. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give a commitment that current budget levels for community employment schemes will not face further cuts in 2013. [49640/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 337 and 359 together.

Community Employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by the Department of Social Protection and forms an important pillar in the strategy of returning long-term unemployed people back to the open labour market. There are currently 23,300 places (including supervisory positions) available on CE and the revised budget for 2012 is circa €340m.

The programme addresses the multiple needs of people who are often far from employment ready and experiencing a range of social and economic problems by operating within local and community contexts and responding to the needs identified by a variety of community groups.

The Department is committed to reforming CE to ensure delivery of service, value for money and the progression of the individual. The broad policy direction for CE in 2013 and future years will be based on the main action points coming from the CE Financial Review which has recently been completed and published by the Department. Officials are currently formulating business plans to address these action points. The Department is also currently finalising a report on the various activation programmes administered by it. This work will take place in the context of the Government’s activation strategy, most recently stated in Pathways to Work.

With regard to the impact of Budget 2012 changes, the Department secured savings of approximately €9m for materials and training expenditure while maintaining CE activity at 2011 levels. There has been no reduction in the number of CE places for 2012 or in the hours of participation by CE participants and Supervisors on schemes as a result of the review. It should also be noted that no scheme has closed as a result of the changes made to the materials and training budget for 2012.

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