Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I take the points made by Deputy Ó Laoghaire on the need for more information. If there is a CE scheme experience with particular difficulties in recruitment, the sponsor should contact the local Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection offices to enable the matter to be reviewed.

It is important to know that there are 1,422 CE vacancies advertised on www.jobsireland.ieat present. These schemes are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work-readiness, thereby improving a person's opportunity of returning to the labour market.

A second point is important. International evidence does not advocate long-term dependency programmes. While researchers accept the role of such programmes in times of high unemployment, they advise that prevalence should be reduced as unemployment falls and employment prospects grow. Some of the evidence points to longer-duration interventions being prone to locking unemployed people into programmes rather than engaging them in active jobs.

Those aged between 21 years and 55 years are entitled to one year on the scheme with the potential to extend the period to two years. Those over 55 years can remain on the scheme for three years.

The schemes make a contribution, but now that we have unemployment down to 6% it is a developing situation. In any event, I will bring back the issues raised by Deputy Ó Laoghaire to the Minister, Deputy Doherty.

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