Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Under Gateway, there is already self-referral. I can confirm this is happening, probably as a result of the number of parliamentary questions from Members of the House.

With regard to Tús, I will shortly be announcing self-referral, with the relevant proportion being approximately 10% in the first instance. Again, this is a result of demand.

On the question about Gateway, a sum of money is already provided by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to local authorities. I do not have the exact figure to hand but it is approximately €600. If the Deputy wishes, I can clarify it. I am just speaking off the top of my head so do not want to be held to the exact figure.

I know from the local authorities I have visited and from reports that local authorities provide a range of training initiatives before employees come on site. They cover health and safety, HAP, first aid, etc. In the authority I visited in Swords, a variety of training options were given before the Gateway employees came on site.

It is important to realise the majority of local authorities that have bought into this and the local authorities I have visited, whose CEOs I have talked to about this matter, have opened up a wide range of internal training opportunities. They treat the Gateway workers as equals. The scheme has been operating well only where there has been full engagement with the trade union and assistance from the trade union movement to ensure there is no displacement of local authority workers.

Some of the most successful schemes across the country, from Mayo to Dublin and down to Limerick, and certainly the initiatives in Fingal are excellent. They have allowed many people to reconnect with the workforce. I acknowledge the Deputy is as committed to getting as many people back to work as any other.

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