Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Since I have taken over responsibility for community employment schemes I am acutely aware of the concerns, both of those involved in schemes and of the Members of both Houses. Because of reduced long-term unemployment levels and the fact that this year we have already issued 36,000 work permits to non-EU nationals, there is no credibility in the argument that there is no need to make cuts in respect of the numbers. I assure the House that the cuts will be kept to a minimum. I am satisfied that we can have a much better community employment programme under the review that is now taking place.

With respect to the question asked by my friend and county colleague, Senator Burke, it would be my intention to look at the categories where progression is not possible. In the case in rural or inner city areas where people over 55 or 60 years of age would clearly return to the live register, it would be my intention to try to come up with a programme to allow such people to continue on community employment schemes. That would also be the case with people with disabilities who have difficulty gaining access to the jobs market. Where progression is seen to be difficult we will endeavour to find a way that allows a continuation by those categories in the scheme.