Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important matter for the Adjournment debate. As the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation will be aware, a significant number of community groups and local authorities participated in FÁS schemes from their early days. In every parish and town in County Tipperary, FÁS schemes contributed to education, community work and, in particular, the improvement of villages and towns. I speak of places like Emly, which won the TidyTowns award last year. Many tidy schools, villages and graveyards made good use of FÁS schemes.

The schemes also acted as a training ground for people who learned to become carpenters, brick layers and plasterers. Some of these individuals went on to find jobs that took advantage of the Celtic tiger and they were able improve their lives and that of their families. I can instance many families in south Tipperary who benefited enormously from the training they received through FÁS schemes.

Alongside the poor publicity FÁS has received over the past 12 months, some of these schemes are being cut. People in south Tipperary are worried and unsure whether their schemes will be retained. In particular, South Tipperary County Council requested a meeting with the Minister in the next few weeks regarding its concerns about the continuation of the schemes right across the local authority area. They have helped with things like the TidyTowns competitions and in other work that councils carry out. The schemes allow people to be involved in education, while many mentally handicapped people were also trained through the schemes. These people are now extremely concerned.

I am not raising this issue tonight to bash FÁS, but I just want some clarification for the people of south Tipperary on the type of scheme and the numbers involved. FÁS did a great job in many cases. While we can criticise the organisation on some issues, it has done a lot of good work and many communities benefited greatly. I would like clarification on the future of the schemes in the county.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on community employment programmes.

Community employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed-term basis. The purpose of CE is to help unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them in enhancing both their technical and personal skills.

An important feature of CE programmes is the development opportunity which they give to the individuals who participate on the programmes. Eligible projects are those which respond to an identified community need; provide development for participants in areas involving heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport and the environment; have the agreement of relevant trade unions; do not displace or replace existing jobs; and offer valuable work experience for participants.

In April 2000, the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced capped limits on the amount of time that a person could participate on a CE scheme. CE capping was introduced to facilitate the movement of participants through the programme, allowing new participants who would not otherwise have such an opportunity to avail of the programme. To cater for older workers in particular, in November 2004 the standard three year CE cap was revised to allow those of 55 years of age and over to avail of a six year period on community employment, based on participation since 3 April 2000. Subsequently in 2006, the participation limit for persons eligible for CE based on a social welfare disability linked payment, including those under 55, was increased by one year. These measures were introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants and participants with a disability may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.

Funding for CE in 2010 has been provided with a view to maintaining overall numbers on FÁS schemes. There are currently over 22,000 people participating on CE schemes nationally. Provision has been made in the 2010 budget for an increase of 500 CE places, bringing the total number of places available to 23,300 for the year. FÁS is currently considering the feasibility of setting up a number of additional schemes, as well as expanding existing schemes in order to absorb the 500 places.

A wide range of client groups is given access to the opportunity CE provides, including lone parents, persons with disabilities, stabilised substance abusers and unemployed persons aged under 55. There are currently 4,914 lone parents and 5,355 people with disabilities participating on CE, while 1,000 places are ring-fenced for the CE drugs task force. The number of places on the drugs task force is kept under constant review.

In delivering these places, FÁS operates flexibly in the management of this allocation in order to maximise progression to the labour market, while at the same time facilitating the support of community services. FÁS continues to welcome proposals from local sponsors to carry out projects, and all proposals are considered within allocated budgets and participant numbers. The provision of places is managed through a standardised application process between regional FÁS offices and local sponsor and community organisations, and any issues regarding the allocation of places are dealt with in this context. However, it should be remembered that in so far as participants remain on CE, they are precluding someone else from benefiting from the programme. FÁS makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised.

FÁS will continue to operate the programme flexibly to ensure the continuation of community projects. Persons who are considered job-ready are progressed through FÁS employment services onto other options, thus freeing up CE places for others in greater need.

The revision of the budget for community employment participant numbers in south Tipperary is necessitated by the fact that FÁS ensures an even distribution of the participant numbers across the south-east region in line with the live register. FÁS has advised that these numbers have been exceeded in south Tipperary as a percentage of the live register for a number of years, this being the measure used for the allocation of places. I am assured that FÁS community services management in the south-east region has consulted with each individual sponsor organisation directly on this process and has agreement that these reductions will be phased in over a period of 12 months.

The Government will continue to support into the future the positive role of FÁS employment schemes in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons, while at the same time providing essential services to communities. In this regard, the operation of the schemes will be kept under constant review in the context of the current difficult unemployment situation. I thank the Deputy once again for raising this matter.