Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

I will take the blame if an argument straying from the amendment arises. I am delighted the Minister said there is too much emphasis on reports and paperwork. Too much money, energy, expertise and time is spent on compiling reports of which the biggest culprit is FÁS. A supervisor running a community employment scheme, in tracking 15 participants, must produce progression reports from training to employment involving reams of paper. These reams go only as far as the regional FÁS centre and no further. Where is the link between this, the central FÁS system and the Department of Social and Family Affairs?

With regard to the two to three year projects, I believe the Minister was alluding to the social economy scheme. The scheme was established with the intention of projects becoming sustainable after two to three years. However, it was based on a European think tank's argument that sought to encourage people with social entrepreneurship skills to get involved. That did not happen. The social economy scheme duplicated the community employment scheme. As we all know, community employment schemes are not sustainable but are provided as a first step in the ultimate progression of a participant to the workforce. The problem was at the initial forward planning stage when the necessary homework was not carried out by the relevant Department. While I accept I am being parochial in my reference to Inishowen and have no doubt that Deputy Keaveney has by now hammered down the Minister's door, the social economy scheme in the area is merely serving as a community employment scheme. The scheme is not to blame. The problem lies in the failure to do the homework in the first instance.