Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise an issue of staffing affecting voluntary and community organisations across the country as interest in the labour activation schemes continues to drop, despite some reform initiatives last year such as those concerning Tús and the community employment scheme. Participant numbers are continuing to fall.

GAA clubs, community councils and Tidy Towns organisations are all suffering from a shortage of applicants. To resolve this issue, I urge the Government to consider expanding the community employment scheme to enable Ukrainian refugees to participate by removing the 12-month signing-on period, given the shortage of applicants across the country and the influx of Ukrainians who may wish to avail of the scheme. It would also be cost-effective for the Government. It would promote social inclusion by allowing our Ukrainian guests the opportunity to engage in the workforce, improve their English-speaking skills and contribute to their local communities.

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