Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Senator Marie Moloney and Deputy Jim Daly asked about community employment schemes. It is hoped 2,500 places is a starter number. We have to provide an indicative budget and there is a cap on it. If an employer provides employment in excess of 30 hours a week, the person concerned is taken off social welfare. Having a single person employed will mean a reduction in cost to the Department of €188 a week, with any other benefits payable to the person. It is a win for him or her because he or she is employed; it is a win for the employer because he or she receives cash back from the Department; and it is win for broader society because we are helping to boost the economy.

We began with an indicative figure for the Tús and JobBridge programmes. Some 13 local authorities have agreed to be part of the first wave of the initiative and the selection of participants is under way in the Department. The local authorities will carry out their own recruitment processes. In some cases, there will be a need for Garda vetting. Nearly 3,000 people are available to be placed on various departmental schemes such as the community employment scheme, but the Garda vetting process is delaying their placement. The delay currently is 14 weeks. The caveat is that in some instances the local authorities may require Garda vetting. They have identified 700 posts to be filled before the end of September. I would be very happy to implement the suggestion to provide a greater financial incentive. However, the Minister for Finance places restrictions on what Departments spend. I, therefore, suggest the Deputy might have that conversation with him.

Many men worked all hours in the construction industry during the boom period and made good money. In many cases, their world of work came to a halt. The Deputy will know that many of them went home to family farms because there was nothing for them to do. Many young single men emigrated. I hope the local authorities' social employment scheme, the JobPath scheme, will provide an opportunity for the people concerned to become re-engaged. There will be work available of interest to former construction workers. It will enable them to provide a significant service for their local community and be well regarded by it, as is the case with community employment scheme participants. I am hopeful this scheme will be a success. It has taken the local authorities an amount of time to flesh out the details, but they have given me an undertaking that the scheme will commence soon. The Department has begun the selection process.