Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The capitation grant is based on the size of the scheme and the number of people working with it, as well as the type of work it does with regard to required equipment.

An intrinsic base and requirement of the community employment scheme is that it provide insurance cover for its own employees, as is the case for any business. The rise some community employment schemes have experienced in recent years has nothing to do with the capitation grant and probably more to do with current societal issues. It is fair to say that because of the 72 actions the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, took in regard to the insurance industry, insurance companies have started to reduce their premiums by approximately 20% to 25%. That was probably the reason it was possible to get better value for the Southill scheme when it shopped around. I am not blind to the fact that others have expressed a difficulty in getting the same premiums they had last year or the year before, but I hope to see the 20% to 25% reduction filter through to all. If there is an issue, as there was with this scheme, the Department is able and willing to help and will not let anybody down.

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