Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"— acknowledges that the plans set out by Government in Budget 2012 form an important step in returning Ireland's economy to a sound footing and regaining our economic sovereignty;

— commends the commitment, dedication and work of all those involved in the management and administration of community employment (CE) schemes;

— regrets that the ongoing reviews had not taken place previously;

— notes that in 2012, in excess of €315 million will be provided by the Government to support community employment and, that as a result, over 22,000 participants will secure valuable experience whilst supporting local community endeavours;

— confirms the continuing support of the Government for the cost effective maintenance of crucial local services provided by community employment;

— notes that there has been no reduction in the number of CE places available for 2012;

— recognises the key role CE special schemes play under the National Drugs Strategy, where places are ring-fenced for CE drug rehabilitation with the specific objective to "help recovering drug users develop their personal and employment skills and find a

pathway back to work";

— notes that the Government has commenced two reviews of community employment, both of which are to be completed by the end of March 2012, to ensure that:

— adequate funding is provided (taking account of all funding and revenue

sources available to sponsors); and

— the schemes meet their labour market activation and progression targets whilst taking cognisance of the rationale and relevance of all scheme objectives;

— acknowledges that no CE scheme has been closed as a result of the reductions in training and materials grants since the announcement of the reduction, and further notes that the Government has committed that all schemes will be supported during the period of the ongoing financial review;

— recognises that there is a considerable variation across CE schemes in relation to the amount of training provided, materials required, overhead costs and the potential for sponsoring organisations to meet certain costs;

— notes that schemes will no longer receive a standard grant per participant but rather, will be provided with a specific level of support aimed at meeting their specific costs;

— further notes that the baseline amount of the grant remains at €500 per participant announced in the budget, but that there will be discretion to make up to €1,000 per participant available to schemes in respect of the training and materials grant this year, based on a clear demonstration of need by the CE schemes; and

— welcomes:

— the engagement by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton T.D., with Department of Social Protection staff to ensure that schemes are supported during the period of the reviews;

— the commitment by the Minister for Social Protection to ensure that the role played by stakeholders in community employment is acknowledged in the ongoing reviews of community employment;

— the assurances given to community and voluntary organisations that no CE scheme will be forced to close as a result of the reductions in training and material grants, pending the completion of the financial review of each CE scheme by the end of March 2012; and

— the commitment of the Minister for Social Protection to ensuring that, following the completion of the financial and activation review, community employment will support both the labour market activation and progression of individual participants, in addition to the maintenance of local community services."

I thank Deputies for their contributions and for their concern about the future of community employment schemes. I am equally as concerned. This debate is an opportunity to discuss how we move forward in a positive fashion to give the people who are currently unemployed an opportunity to have a brighter and better future.

This Government's priority is jobs. We want to ensure that those on the live register are ready and able to return to work as soon as possible. This is why in 2012 we are spending over €960 million on employment supports, including €315 million on CE schemes. I think Deputies will agree that these are not small sums and they have been provided for in the budget. While the overall spending on employment supports will increase this year from the €882 million expended in 2011, the spend on CE schemes will be reduced somewhat. At a time when the public finances are more constrained than ever before, this employment spending represents a very significant increase on 2011. Currently, there are 1,143 community employment schemes in operation nationally with 23,300 places, approximately 22,000 participants and 1,300 full-time equivalent supervisor posts whose wages account for an expenditure of approximately €57 million.

I remind the concerned Deputies that there will be no reduction in the number of places on CE schemes and no reduction in the number of supervisors. Some speakers may have sought to make misleading statements in that respect. There are no reductions in the number of supervisors or in the number of places. I know this matter is of great concern to communities all around the country.

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