Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I am satisfied about the Government's continued commitment to the community employment programme, which was set out in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. There is no doubt the employment programme is an overwhelming success. The primary purpose of community employment is to provide work experience and training for the long-term unemployed to facilitate their re-entry to the labour market and the Minister of State is trying to ensure that continues to be the case.

A significant number of people participated in the scheme in 1998 with almost 40,000 benefiting and they carried out extremely good work. As part of an overall restructuring programme place numbers have been reduced since with the estimated participation of 25,000 people in 2002 whereas the original target for the year was 28,000. The reduction reflects the significant decrease in the numbers of long-term unemployed and the shift in emphasis from work experience programmes to training.

There was no reduction in the 800 places allocated to the national drugs strategy group or the 1,250 places allocated for child care, an area in which a reduction would be totally unacceptable. Community employment places in the health system have also not been reduced to ensure continuity in the delivery of services. The Minister of State is well aware of the work of carers and the provision of care for people with disabilities. Ultimately, this is the responsibility of the health boards under the Department of Health and Children and is not necessarily the subject of a training scheme. However, the Minister of State will be conscious of the need to retain those places.

The administration of community employment, including the allocation of places, is a matter for FÁS primarily. FÁS prioritises the projects and co-ordinates the reductions. It has undertaken an internal review of community employment which includes an assessment of the role of the scheme in providing community services. In addition, given the multi-dimensional effect of community employment, a cross-departmental group of senior officials has also been asked to consider options for the future provision of community services.

The Minister brings practical experience on the ground to bear on this issue. Most Members may have received representations about community employment but I have not yet received a complaint regarding reductions in the constituency of Roscommon.