Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Government amendment to the motion. Those of us involved in politics must acknowledge the important and continuing role of the community employment schemes in society and, in particular, in the area of child care and their role in helping to implement the national drugs strategy and their work in education. I concur with the comments of my colleague, Deputy Deering, and with many of the sentiments expressed by other speakers. These sentiments are shared by the Minister herself who spoke last night and they are evident in Government policy. Many of the issues and aspirations expressed during this debate reflect the intentions of the Minister and the Government. It is preferable that red herrings are not introduced such as the suggestion that the community employment schemes are to be obliterated. This is certainly not the case. In particular, it must be emphasised that no reduction is planned in the number of places on CE schemes and no reductions are planned in the number of supervisors.

The aim of the CE schemes is to ensure that those on the live register are ready and able to return to work as soon as possible. It must be acknowledged that there has been a change in emphasis in Government policy as to how money is spent in job creation terms. In 2012, the Government will be increasing its total expenditure on employment supports, up from €882 million in 2011 to €960 million in 2012. In this very difficult economic climate, it must be acknowledged that the Government's number one priority is job creation, and this is the one area where there will be an increase in funding. The ultimate ambition of all these schemes is to get people back to work. There are currently 1,100 community employment schemes with more than 23,000 participants and 1,300 full-time positions which are being maintained. The expenditure on wages is €57 million. I welcome that the report and review will happen within a matter of five or six weeks.

I refer to the wording of the Sinn Féin motion. The Minister has answered all the points raised in the motion. It is the job of the Government to help the long-term unemployed by means of the CE schemes and to help them back into work or to find work for the first time. As is the case in almost all circumstances to do with any form of social welfare, the payments are considerably higher than the supports provided by the Sinn Féin coalition government in the North. I know the Sinn Féin Deputies dislike this point being made but other Deputies raise points of their own repeatedly. This Government is doing far more than what is being done by Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland. I welcome the Minister's support for the CE schemes as they are crucial to communities.

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