Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his remarks. I congratulate the community employment schemes in County Clare. I have had an opportunity to meet with workers on the schemes and to meet the sponsors of schemes. I can testify to the very valuable community work and the contribution of the community employment schemes. The scheme sponsors endeavour to provide opportunities for people to advance themselves in the employment market. I am pleased to say that we have retained the schemes and the supervisors. Good supervisors are fundamental to the success of the schemes. We have been in a position to develop a number of new initiatives. County Clare has been outstanding in opting to take up initiatives under the Tús scheme as well as under the community employment schemes. I can assure the Deputy that we are very anxious to support the community work carried out by CE schemes.

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