Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I accept what the Deputy said and I would welcome it if the people in Clifden were prepared to take on more work.

As already intimated, there are substantial savings to be made. During the period of the review - the other purpose of which is to collect data - I want to encourage the CE schemes to co-operate with the former regional and local management of FÁS who are now civil servants working for the Department of Social Protection and supply the data and information that is required. A number of schemes have multiple sources of funding. Some may be in receipt of funding from my Department and the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs and Health, while others may be sponsored by local authorities. There is a need to obtain a reliable picture in respect of the different sources of funding. Some CE schemes - I accept it is not a huge number - have significant income-earning abilities. We want to target the funding at the schemes which are in most need of it. I would appreciate the support of Deputies while the review is ongoing. I urge them to encourage those who operate the schemes to remain in close communication with the officials who have been administering them.

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