Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to raise the issue of the revised points for eligibility for ring-fenced projects agreed by FÁS. In particular, I wish to zero in on one such project, the community after schools project known as CASPr. The project has been operating in the north-east inner city of Dublin since 1995 and I need not tell Members about the level of social and educational disadvantage suffered by that part of the north inner city over generations. CASPr is an impressive project that provides child care and educational support programmes for more than 120 children from local schools in the five to 12 year age group. It provides training for local adults from the community, many of whom were early school leavers, and runs a crèche that caters for up to 15 children. In addition, the project runs two community employment schemes under the FÁS community services programme and this assists in the staffing of all its after-school programmes.

CASPr is an accredited training centre that provides high level training up to the top level of FETAC qualifications. Since CASPr is based in a local drugs task force area, one of its community employment schemes achieved a special ring-fenced T-code status which focuses on drug prevention, education and rehabilitation. Effectively, this has meant CASPr can recruit young adults under the age of 25 years, despite the general eligibility criterion that it is for the over-25s. Moreover, because of this special status, extensions of three years normally are given and this has enabled the project to continue to attract into training and productive employment within the community a large number of people who are at risk of drug abuse.

As a matter of routine, CASPr sought extensions for three of the participants, all of whom were under 25 years and who had completed their first year, but it was told flatly that they would only be given a three-month extension because a review was in train. This was news to CASPr. The project has been informed of a recent change to the eligibility for T-code or ring-fenced projects following a recent review. I must emphasise this review did not include service providers. CASPr has been informed there are nine revised points of eligibility. I again emphasise these points of eligibility were arrived at without consultation with service providers in the field and at no point did FÁS consult CASPr. This is a source of concern for both CASPr and, as Members will understand, the wider community within the north inner city which depends so heavily on this service. Consequently, I look forward to the Minister of State's response on this important project and the provision of training services.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank Deputy McDonald for allowing me time to discuss this issue. As she has indicated, it is a matter that concerns CASPr, where many people have been employed in the context of a special project. In addition, a meeting of the local drugs task force in the north inner city was held this morning and it was stated it had not been consulted with regard to the review mechanism and the nine points of eligibility now proposed for special projects and their interconnection with mainstreamed community employment schemes. Consequently, there appears to be a gap between the best of intentions and consultation and awareness among those delivering these services. In particular, Deputy McDonald and I met representatives of CASPr the week before last to discuss this matter. They were concerned that it would have a detrimental impact and that no proper consultation on the matter had taken place with CASPr or other service providers. It appears as though there was a degree of consultation but that it did not involve the direct service providers. It involved one umbrella group but not necessarily those at the coalface. The representatives of CASPr seek an opportunity to have an input into the new adjustments being proposed and suggest the review should take place after consultations with them and after they have been made fully aware of what is being proposed. Consequently, I would welcome a positive response from the Minister of State on the matter.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. As far as I can figure out, this appears, by and large, to be a communications problem. I will read the reply I have to hand, which is a little long-winded.

In addition to operating the community employment scheme, FÁS also oversees the implementation of the community employment drugs rehabilitation programme which provides 1,000 places for recovering drug users. This special programme is part of the continuum of care to facilitate and support participants in their ongoing recovery from alcohol or drug misuse. The programme aims to enable those affected by substance misuse to address their addiction, while giving them an opportunity to upskill. It also supports participants during their work placement with a view to achieving sustainable employment. The nine-point special conditions for the delivery of the drugs rehabilitation places were originally agreed by FÁS following the recommendations of the Bruce report in 2004. This study evaluated the effect of special community projects in consultation with the community sector.

In early 2009 the community sector made representations to the then Office of the Minister for Drugs for a review of the procedures for the delivery of the original nine conditions. The matter was considered by the drugs advisory group which supports and drives the implementation of the national drugs strategy. Arising from the discussions at the drugs advisory group, FÁS was mandated to establish a working group to review the delivery procedures for the drug rehabilitation programme places. The working group was tasked with reviewing the nine points to ensure consistent and appropriate referral, delivery and implementation of the special conditions for the delivery of the 1,000 places. The group included representatives of all key stakeholders, including FÁS, the HSE, the national drugs rehabilitation implementation committee, the then Office of the Minister for Drugs, the community sector and the voluntary sector. It met five times last year to review and agree to the final procedures.

It was agreed that the representatives of the community sector would consult their constituent members on an ongoing basis. By way of example, the sector representatives, through Citywide, consulted their constituent groups, including community employment supervisors, throughout the life of the working group and fed into the decision-making process. As stated, the group also included representatives from the national drugs rehabilitation implementation committee, which ensured close links with the emerging care and case management framework.

The working group reported last December. It is important to note that the nine points have not been changed; rather, they have been restated and the referral process has been clarified. The agreed procedures also provide a guideline for FÁS in supporting and monitoring the implementation of the nine points. Briefing for FÁS staff is under way. FÁS personnel on local and regional drugs task forces are in a position to bring information from FÁS to the drugs task forces and update them on any relevant changes in organisational practices.

FÁS has presented a draft referral protocol to the national drugs rehabilitation implementation committee as recommended by the working group. Subject to feedback received, FÁS plans to pilot the protocol at three community employment rehabilitation sites. The aim of this process is to ensure there is a consistent and integrated approach nationally to the referral of individuals to community employment drugs rehabilitation programme places.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate this is the response the Minister of State received but our information flatly contradicts what has been said. At no stage was CASPr involved in a consultation procedure. I believe Citywide, a very fine group, is being cited because it was perhaps the only group engaged on this matter. If it is the case that the nine points have not been changed, how is it that a scheme which enjoyed T-status is no longer ring-fenced? How did that happen?

There are 1,000 allocated places for citizens in recovery from drug use, but we are not entirely clear whether all of these 1,000 places are being taken up. We are also mindful that prevention and preventive intervention are critical across the State but particularly so in the north inner city in keeping younger people - the under 25s, most particularly men in that age group - away from all of the potential hazards and a life of misery caused by drug misuse.

While I appreciate the Minister of State's response, it is inaccurate, although I reiterate that I do not lay the blame at her feet. We need to have this matter sorted out. Times are tough but by penny-pinching in this way, as demonstrated in CASPr, we will build a much bigger bill in terms of the cost to the Exchequer but also in terms of human misery. I, therefore, ask the Minister of State to investigate this issue on a cross-party basis.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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It seems there was a misunderstanding in the representation of the role of Citywide because, while it was consulted, it did not represent the other groups involved. However the misunderstanding occurred, CASPr has stated it was not consulted. We need to clarify this matter, as there may still be scope for consultation in this respect.

The Minister of State has stated there is a draft referral protocol, whereby there will be three pilot community employment rehabilitation sites under a FÁS plan. I do not know what the text is and whether significant new information or a change of practice is involved. However, I would like to be made aware of what is contained in the protocol, if possible.

There may have been a communications problem, through no fault of the Minister of State, the Minister or the Department but perhaps as a result of a misunderstanding as to the representation offered by Citywide which does not speak for a range of other special projects, although that might have been the presumption. Perhaps some level of consultation could take place at this time.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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My information is that the community sector was represented by Ms Joan Byrne of SAOL, with an alternate being Mr. Daithí Doolan of Citywide, and by Ms Teresa Weafer of the Ringsend and District Response to Drugs. The voluntary sector was represented by Mr. Tony Geoghegan from the Merchants Quay Project. That said, I cannot understand why on an initiative dating back as far as 2004 there is still no clarity on the way in which it operates. While the indication given to me seems to suggest matters have been sorted out, it is also suggested a pilot programme is running. To my mind, that does not add up.

I am not in a position to answer the Deputies' questions now, nor do I have specific information on CASPr. I will undertake to examine the position, specifically on CASPr, and also to seek clarity on this initiative which has been established for so long that it should be operating smoothly at this stage. If there are 1,000 places available for recovering drug users, I want to see them used fully. I will obtain further information and come back to the Deputies. I again thank them for raising the issue.