John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. The recently announced jobs initiative is extremely welcome, particularly for anyone who obtains an internship or a place on a scheme. However, everyone agrees that more must be done. In that context, I wish to make a suggestion in respect of something that would be cost-effective and that would make a massive difference to the lives of thousands of people.

Community welfare officers have informed me that they are continually being contacted by community groups and unemployed individuals in respect of community employment, CE, schemes. I have worked with community groups and sporting clubs all my life and I have seen examples of the great work these schemes can do. On Monday last, I visited the Curam family centre in Claremorris and I was informed by those who run it that they were not be able to continue to provide services were it not for the existence of CE schemes.

The issue that always arises is the cost associated with running a scheme and everyone is aware of the economic climate which obtains at present. The reality is that CE schemes are cost-effective because the overhead costs would not increase significantly. Effectively, people who want to work on these schemes would only be paid €20 more than they would receive in the form of jobseeker's allowance. Everyone benefits from CE schemes on foot of the invaluable work done by those who avail of them. People who are unemployed and who become involved in a scheme suddenly obtain a sense of purpose and are given a reason to get up out of bed each day.

In addition to expanding the number of places available on CE schemes, I strongly suggest that the criteria relating to applicants should be changed and made more flexible. At present, these schemes are confined to those who are over 25 years of age. However, those who are under 25 form the largest cohort of those who are unemployed. In Mayo, there are 13,500 people who are unemployed. Some 2,500 of these - including 940 females - are under 25 years of age. Any expansion of the CE schemes should allow under 25s to be eligible to access them. Even if a time limit of two or three years were applied to a new scheme, this would at least give people the opportunity to work until the economy begins to recover.

CE schemes were very successful during the economic downturn in the 1980s. At that stage there were up to 40,000 people on such schemes. Currently, there are only 22,500 on the schemes. There is an urgent need to increase the numbers on CE schemes in order to offset, to some degree, the problems caused by the economic crisis. Seven or eight years ago there were ample places available on schemes because it was not possible to find sufficient numbers of people to take them up. What is happening at present is similar to giving someone an umbrella when the sun is shining and then taking it away when it starts to rain heavily.

I accept that there is a national problem with unemployment. However, the unemployment rate my constituency in Mayo has always been particularly high. There are unemployment blackspots in east Mayo. In the 1980s north Mayo, along with places such as Tallaght and Limerick city, was designated as one of the 12 worst unemployment blackspots in the country. In 2006 Ballina had the highest rate, 15.8%, of unemployment in the country when the national level was 4.4%. That was in the middle of the Celtic tiger period.

I appeal to the Minister and to the Government to examine the benefits of expanding the CE schemes and of making the criteria that apply more flexible.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, and I thank Deputy O'Mahony for raising it. This is an issue of great concern to many Members on foot of the useful work undertaken across the country by community employment projects.

Responsibility for community employment and a number of similar initiatives was recently transferred to the Department of Social Protection. In the coming months the Minister hopes to be in a position to consider afresh a number of aspects of the operation of these initiatives. Against the background of scarce resources, she wants to see where best outcomes - at best value - can be achieved in providing activation opportunities for people who are out of work. Community employment cannot be excluded from any consideration of this nature.

It is important to emphasise and remind Deputies that the purpose of community employment primarily involves developing the skills base and work readiness of individuals in order that they can re-enter the workforce after periods of unemployment or other absences. Community employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide opportunities to engage in useful work and training within communities on a fixed term basis with a view to progression to the labour market in the short term. The criteria for participating in community employment are based on individual circumstances related to age, length of time unemployed or absent from the labour market and in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments. The programme also focuses on those with more limited access to jobs and training opportunities. This latter client group will include lone parents, persons with disabilities, stabilised substance abusers, ex-prisoners, travellers and long-term unemployed persons.

Duration on the programme is limited to facilitate the progression of participants to the open labour market. This also allows for the movement of participants through the programme and opens opportunities for new participants to avail of the benefits offered. The number of places available was increased to 23,300 in 2010. The budgetary provision for 2011 will allow FÁS to continue the programme at the same level as 2010. In delivering these places, FÁS will continue to operate 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.

In conclusion, the Government will continue to support the positive role of FÁS employment schemes in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed person. The Minister is also conscious of the meaningful role community employment projects play in supporting services for and in communities the length and breadth of Ireland.

While there are no immediate plans to alter the current criteria for participants in community employment or to add to the number of places available, the Minister has asked me to say that she will be taking stock of its operation with a view to making improvements if these are found to be necessary.