Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Mansergh for raising this important matter and articulating so well his concerns about an issue that is of importance to many individuals and communities.

The primary purpose of community employment as an active labour market programme is to reintegrate long-term unemployed persons into open labour market jobs. Community employment provides unemployed people with temporary opportunities whereby they can develop their skills and obtain a recent track record of work experience.

FÁS is continuing to develop the content of the community employment programme. The new approach will see the introduction of an individual learner planning process which will focus on meeting the learning needs of participants. The individual learner plan will provide for the planning, organising and recording of the work experience, training and development each community employment participant receives while working on the programme. It also includes further training and development for supervisors, a new application process and quality assurance procedures. The new approach should provide substantial benefits to FÁS clients and give increased value for the training budget invested.

In 1999, the community employment programme was restructured to limit participation by new participants to three years, with effect from April 2000. This change was introduced to discourage repeated participation in community employment and to encourage unemployed persons to avail of training, education and employment options where possible. However, this three year cap was amended in August 2001 to allow particularly disadvantaged persons to remain on the programme for a further period. Approximately 20% of participants, including persons under 55 years of age, have benefited from an additional year on the programme under the flexibility guidelines introduced in August 2001.

On foot of a review of FÁS employment schemes, which included detailed consultations with the social partners, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced changes to community employment and other employment schemes with effect from 10 November 2004. The three year cap was removed for persons aged 55 or older. This means that those over 55 are now eligible to participate on community employment programmes for a maximum of six years. In the case of persons advancing beyond 55 years during their normal period of service on community employment, participation can also be extended for up to a maximum of six years. This change was designed to address the particular difficulty of finding replacements to participate in community employment schemes in certain rural areas. It also helps to secure the continuity of community services generally. Combined with the rural social scheme, under the aegis of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, where 2,500 places are available, the existing community service support framework will be maintained.

The current ring fencing and prioritisation procedures for the essential services of child care, health related services and drugs task force clients, are being maintained. Community employment will remain as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression to employment. For those aged under 55, the normal service of up to a maximum of three years will continue to apply, subject to the current flexibility guidelines administered by FÁS.

In addition to the changes introduced to community employment programmes, it was also announced last November that participants remaining on job initiative schemes will have their contracts renewed on an annual basis. Participants who leave that programme voluntarily will be replaced by community employment participants to support the service being provided.

There will be no compulsory cessation of social economy programmes, which play a very valuable role in communities throughout the country. In situations where an enterprise decides itself to cease activity, the employees affected will be assisted by FÁS in finding alternative employment. From 1 January 2006, the social economy programme will be transferred to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and will be administered by Pobail, formerly known as ADM.

It was also announced in November 2004 that there would be 25,000 places overall on FÁS employment programmes which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative. In fact, the latest figures show the total number of places on the three programmes is 900 in excess of this figure, with community employment places at over 22,300, which represents an increase of over 100 places compared with the end of 2004.

The Government will continue to support the positive role of community employment in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons, while at the same time providing essential services to communities. I assure Senator Mansergh that I will bring the contents of his worthwhile contribution to the attention of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment as soon as the transcript becomes available.