Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Community and voluntary organisations throughout the country, in particular in the Cork South-West constituency, value the work carried out by CE workers. In many cases, such as with meals on wheels and looking after local graveyards, they are doing work that used to be previously funded by Departments, whether through county councils or other agencies, but which has been affected by recruitment embargoes. These workers have now been asked to go home and have no gainful employment. It particularly affects those in rural communities where there are no great employment opportunities, bar seasonal employment during the summer.

Will the Minister comment on this? Can we work on a rural and an urban CE scheme? Places on the rural social scheme are limited to 2,600. There has been no increase over recent years. Farmers and fishermen are struggling greatly on low incomes. Workers on the Tús scheme want to continue working and do not want to go back on social welfare. Will the Minister also comment on that?

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