Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

There is no shortage of reviews of community employment, of which there have been a great many right up to the time when community employment schemes joined my Department. They came under its aegis on 1 January, or in practice on 4 January, together with approximately 700 staff who previously had worked in the employment services side of FÁS and the administration of community employment schemes. On foot of the community employment schemes coming under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection and given that Department's long commitment to people who are unemployed, I am convinced that when Members again discuss this issue in eight or nine months time, it will be evident how much progress has been made.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to reviews. All of the reviews, both national and international, have been highly critical of the lack of progression for people on CE schemes into employment. It must be remembered that these schemes are described as labour market schemes. Deputies are aware that CE schemes are critically important to many areas throughout the country in the context of the delivery of local services. The first of the two reviews that are under way is considering matters revolving around the financial facts and figures relating to CE schemes. It would be very odd if, on assuming responsibility for these schemes, the Department of Social Protection did not seek an analysis of the very large spend relating to them. This year, we will be spending approximately €315 million on CE schemes. In total, we will be spending over €1 billion in respect of employment support schemes, some of which originated with FÁS and others, such as the back to education allowance scheme, which have always been funded by my Department. We are considering the position with regard to all of these schemes. I am of the view that many Deputies would be extremely disappointed if we did not engage in an investigation of the funding relating to them.

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