Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The Government is committed to the continuation of community employment schemes. The total amount being spent by the Department of Social Protection on employment support programmes, including community employment schemes, is not being reduced, rather it is being increased. The total spend by the Department on employment support programmes will be €977 million in 2012. It will be €882 million this year. Within thae increased budget there will be reforms in the way some of the money will be spent. There are different circumstances applying to community employment schemes. For some, the sponsors are statutory bodies which have separate education and training budgets. In respect of other schemes, there is access to differing levels of funds from different sources. Within this framework there is a review taking place of the total package to ensure the best value for money is being obtained.

We should be clear about one issue. The Government is not closing down any community employment scheme or reducing payments to community employment scheme participants. The overall amount provided for employment support programmes is being increased, within which there will be certain reforms by the Department of Social Protection.

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