Community Employment Schemes Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2017

Wednesday, 29 November 2017

Ceisteanna (35)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

35. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent in each county for community employment; and the procedures in place for schemes that require extra funding or seek extra places. [50575/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Community Employment (CE) schemes are typically sponsored by groups (known as CE Sponsors) wishing to benefit the local community. Such schemes provide a valuable service to local communities, while at the same time, providing training and educational opportunities to job seekers.

The total expenditure for CE in 2016 was just over €361 million. A breakdown of this CE expenditure, for each county, is set out in the table attached. At the end of September, there were just over 21,000 participants on the Programme and over 1,300 supervisors. The annual budget provided to CE schemes includes an amount to cover the cost of training, materials, participant and supervisor wages, which are necessary for the effective operation of the scheme. The materials grant is available towards the cost of all materials necessary for the effective operation of the project such as insurance, audit fees and protective clothing. All scheme expenditure is approved by my Department, at Divisional level, in line with the contract agreement.

While my Department is not in a position to allocate additional places or monies to the overall budget in 2017, if there is a scheme that has an identified need for additional places or is experiencing financial difficulties, the sponsor should contact their local DEASP Division and the matter will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The overall number of employment scheme places available in 2017 is 32,000. CE continues to be the largest programme in 2017 with 22,400 places available in over 950 schemes across the country. The balance is made up of placements in schemes such as the Rural Social Scheme and Tús.

The Government is very conscious of the role CE schemes play to support the delivery of vital services in local communities.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Employment Expenditure by County in 2016

County	Wages	Supervision	Training	Materials	Totals
CARLOW	5,892,198	987,213	162,975	315,363	7,357,749
CAVAN	4,628,106	760,583	120,428	211,348	5,720,464
CLARE	6,751,468	1,393,042	126,352	356,484	8,627,346
CORK	25,575,102	4,588,449	570,816	1,372,011	32,106,378
DONEGAL	13,775,665	2,469,327	292,956	687,693	17,225,642
DUBLIN	66,174,906	14,601,494	1,070,408	2,475,360	84,322,169
GALWAY	18,190,160	3,636,502	322,442	887,631	23,036,736
KERRY	12,488,621	2,128,569	186,009	708,588	15,511,787
KILDARE	9,974,386	1,689,451	324,739	500,815	12,489,391
KILKENNY	5,660,880	909,030	106,265	285,090	6,961,265
LAOIS	4,188,801	695,407	60,004	202,391	5,146,602
LEITRIM	1,579,201	310,894	48,291	79,506	2,017,893
LIMERICK	16,039,202	2,995,706	258,629	782,244	20,075,780
LONGFORD	5,196,767	921,401	137,511	260,546	6,516,226
LOUTH	9,609,997	1,543,068	228,552	483,318	11,864,935
MAYO	9,201,648	1,828,943	163,648	472,072	11,666,311
MEATH	5,688,388	1,005,089	149,449	284,155	7,127,081
MONAGHAN	4,240,865	599,613	112,596	196,106	5,149,181
OFFALY	5,077,853	878,142	141,937	250,460	6,348,393
ROSCOMMON	4,193,349	838,192	95,760	196,681	5,323,983
SLIGO	5,989,938	1,150,102	149,932	322,144	7,612,117
TIPPERARY	9,657,083	2,169,773	147,550	519,340	12,493,746
WATERFORD	11,688,276	2,144,048	242,688	588,715	14,663,728
WESTMEATH	6,610,318	1,135,842	173,487	365,683	8,285,330
WEXFORD	13,293,621	2,469,110	301,142	728,118	16,791,992
WICKLOW	5,681,601	1,021,734	154,667	286,676	7,144,678
Grand Total	287,048,401	54,870,726	5,849,234	13,818,540	361,586,901

Questions Nos. 36 to 39, inclusive, answered orally.