Mr. Oliver Egan:

To put the matter in context, the labour market activation review is nearing completion. Perhaps I might give the Deputy a flavour of the issues we are discussing, bearing in mind that we have not yet reached firm conclusions. We hope the report will be finalised in the next number of weeks and that we can publish it thereafter.

The issues we are examining in the activation review include how to make the range of programmes for which my colleagues and I have responsibility more effective in the context of labour market progression. We are extremely conscious of doing this in a way that protects the services provided for community groups and the vital services provided. It can be a difficult balancing act to get the mixture right and it is taking us a little time to work through it. The way we see the community employment scheme working as we move forward is that an individual learning plan, about which my colleague, Ms Donnelly will talk, will be carried out with each individual when they join. It will identify those people who can work through the programme and move on with one year's experience and the individuals who might need a longer term progression which we would allow to happen within the parameters of our budget line. We are conscious of the need to cater for both sides in that regard. As the Deputy said, there is a 10% figure. That procedure has been in place for a number of years. We would like to improve on it to make it more focused on the individual and help him or her to secure progression. We are conscious of the need for continuity of service, particularly in the health care area and programmes dealing with disability, drugs and so forth, and to balance the progression of an individual against the need of the community group to continue the service. Ms Donnelly will talk about this aspect in greater detail.

We are carrying out a detailed review of child care.

We are doing a detailed review. We are preparing a paper with our Civil Service colleagues on the provision of child care and how it can be dealt with in a way that addresses the needs of the child care groups and give them the opportunity of progression. My colleague Ms Mary Donnelly, will develop these points.