Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and I hope the commitment is there to strengthen and enhance the schemes and that there will be no reduction in them. I am being honest when I state rural constituencies such as Cavan-Monaghan have not seen the economic recovery about which we hear so much talk in the Chamber. It really has been the more urban areas which have been affected by it. Rural areas totally depend on such schemes and as their local authorities do not have the manpower they used to have for roads, libraries and community spaces such as playgrounds, the schemes are very important in this regard. Concerns are being raised about access to JobPath for community employment scheme participants. It appears JobPath seems to take precedence. My colleagues in Fianna Fáil and I have had huge issues involving people who have a place available on a community employment scheme and who have a genuine interest and skills to impart and use in their communities. Once they are signed up to JobPath, however, there does not seem to be any room for manoeuvre or to be able to negotiate going from one scheme to the other. This is a huge problem which needs to be dealt with.

Community employment schemes have grown to develop great social and economic benefits for our communities and we must be mindful of the impact JobPath is having on them. While the goal is to move the majority of people into full-time sustainable employment, we need to be cognisant that a one-size-fits all approach is not suitable for everybody and therefore a degree of flexibility is needed in the activation scheme, along with an awareness of the people's age, skills set, previous experience, needs and goals. Many Deputies have been contacted by people having huge difficulties because they have signed up for JobPath and wish to move to a community employment scheme but the flexibility to do this does not exist. It is a specific issue that needs to be addressed.

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