Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

The FÁS community employment programme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed-term basis. Community employment helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and assisting them to enhance their technical and personal skills.

I am informed that the rural social scheme is under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I understand its main purpose is to provide income support for low-income farmers and fishermen and to provide certain services of benefit to local communities. The operation of the scheme is, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

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