Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

There was a lot of scaremongering.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Burton's comments yesterday in recognition of the valued contribution which community employment schemes made to communities across the country. The Minister is correct, the schemes play a valuable role. They often provide services, particularly in rural areas, which would not otherwise be provided. Every parish has a community employment scheme which plays a valuable role. That is true of my constituency in which they underpin the provision of many essential community services. For example, the family resource network provides family supports, information and advice at local level in the four corners of County Clare, in Kilrush, Ennistymon, Killaloe and Shannon. Community employment schemes also have an important role to play and do much good work in GAA and Tidy Towns organisations. Numerous Tidy towns organisations sponsor such schemes, without which the achievements in restoring pride of place in their communities would not be possible. In some areas, the schemes have facilitated schools to employ secretaries such as in my local school at Ballynacally. On local radio yesterday, I heard Mr. Brian Higgins of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions say that many of the schemes will collapse if material and training grants are reduced.

The proposed changes are designed to reform one element of the funding of CE schemes. There is no intention to axe the schemes. The Minister is undertaking a value for money analysis of the schemes. It would be helpful if the Minister would comment on this when she replies to the debate today, so as to draw a line under the scaremongering that is taking place. I ask the Minister to clarify that matter.

I could have spoken on other issues, particularly the employer's rebate on redundancy payment which could put pressure on the Department of Social Protection and which could be looked at again, but time has beaten me. I am delighted to have had an opportunity to contribute to the debate.

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