Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the commitment given by the Minister of State on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection that there will be no decrease in the number of community employment places allocated in 2012. That is important because most of those schemes provide vital services. The delay in the report is causing problems and is unacceptable. Despite the fact there is a commitment to financial support to keep schemes going, schemes are running into trouble and it is important we have the opportunity to debate the report.

The Minister of State has indicated the Department will engage with the unions on the process. They certainly have complained about it. I ask him and the Minister to do all they can to ensure the survival of the mainstream community employment schemes. Surely it is better to get people to do work that is socially useful and to receive training at the same time during a recession, enabling them to move back into employment, rather than passing the time away.

There is a particular problem with the drugs rehabilitation projects in inner city areas. Although I do not represent an inner city area, people from those areas have come to us about these problems. I would like the Minister of State to bring that information back to the Minister for Social Protection and ensure that is protected.

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