Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. CE schemes are designed to help those in long-term unemployment, who are disadvantaged or who find it impossible to get mainstream work to have a job in their local communities. They provide childcare help, elderly care and drug rehabilitation services. The €5 extra for CE scheme workers in the budget was a modest increase and as a result it is difficult to find people to participate in the scheme. I have raised this both in the Dáil and at my party's recent think-in, held in Mullingar. These programmes not only benefit participants but also the community by providing essential services. However, the scheme does not pay enough for providing such great work within the community. I can only say it is not fit for purpose. I advocate for this to be changed. Fianna Fáil has always been a strong supporter and advocate of CE schemes and one of the first ones started in my own area. However, the €5 increase in the budget was absolutely unacceptable.

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