Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Minister to explain section 7, which gives me the opportunity to raise the wider issue of community employment schemes. There was uproar in the voluntary sector when reductions were announced to CE schemes and the payments associated with them. The Minister rushed quickly to bridge the gap by indicating that she will not endanger existing schemes until such time as a review had been carried out. She made that statement in January and tomorrow will be May Day, but we have not heard a whimper from the Department regarding the review. I would appreciate her observations on the matter. She is clearly aware of the importance of CE schemes. Their future is surrounded by a great deal of uncertainty and the voluntary sector, which relies heavily on them, is in limbo while it awaits the outcome of the review. I am not familiar with the details of the review, its terms of reference or who is conducting it. Perhaps she can enlighten us.