Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

That said, the OECD stated that "even allowing for the diversity of CE, Ireland should have scaled it back further during the long period of low unemployment, when its participants could more easily find regular jobs." I accept that relates to the past but it is pity it was not done. The OECD concluded that "The existing Community Employment (CE) programme should not be expanded greatly, even if unemployment increases as a result of the weaker economic conditions, partly because it was not downsized enough during the years" when there was a great deal of money. That suggests we that should examine the schemes, identify those that represent important services to the community, give good experience to participants and provide value for money. I hope even the Deputies in Sinn Féin might share that as an objective as it is a reasonable one to have.

A greater emphasis on reforming activation policies and associated measures is also a major condition of continued financial support from the troika and was included in the original agreement with it. It is my job to see that this country exits successfully and safely from the troika programme to economic recovery, including mass regains in employment. That is our objective. However, the troika fails to recognise the intrinsic social value of some community employment schemes which play such an important role in communities, in particular by helping the disabled to live independently or delivering meals-on-wheels to older citizens. That is a point that tends to get lost in the economic analysis of community employment schemes, which almost exclusively focuses on labour market progression. There is work to be done in that regard, which is the purpose of the reviews being carried out. I have just received the schemes into my Department, along with 700 former FÁS employees. I ask Deputies why they would have difficulty with the review of spending of approximately €1 billion on labour market supports, including €315 million on important community employment schemes, and not seek to ensure the money is spent as well as possible in the community.

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