Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the review, we only got this programme at the end of last year and we took it over from 1 January. My first priority was to make sure that the programme continued. As the Deputies said, this is a very important programme and I did not want any delay in regard to it continuing and the programme being put in place, so that was my priority. We need a review of the scheme, and I want to respond to the points made by the two Deputies, many of which I agree with. The scheme supports more than 2,000 jobs. There are 1,600 people employed and 306 managers, and I have provided €815,000 for 12 new social enterprises. I like this scheme. Deputy Ó Cuív referred to the people who are on the scheme.

It is important that we give them an opportunity to be in the workplace and give back to society.

Work is being done in terms of social protection and discussions on these schemes are constantly being held. However, I must be careful in that some of them are social enterprises and meet social needs. I do not want to affect schemes that are performing a good for society that no Department, local authority or agency is addressing. Without such schemes, communities would not have access to certain services. My first priority is to protect them and their funding and prevent something from being introduced that would affect them negatively in any way. I will want the Deputies' support in that regard, as these important schemes are working.

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