John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

While I know the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, wanted to take this matter, he has probably provided a comprehensive answer to some of the issues I intend to raise. It pertains to the Gateway to Work project, which was meant to be rolled out last autumn, but I am unsure whether that has actually happened. If so, has it been rolled out in some but not all counties, and if that is the case, in how many counties has it been rolled out? Personally, I have always campaigned for increasing the numbers that should be brought into community employment schemes, as many long-term unemployed people would be delighted with the opportunity to get something that resembles a return to work. I also wish to ascertain whether an allocation of funding will be given. Apart from the employment of such people on community employment schemes, will funding be provided for equipment, materials or whatever? The training and experience provided will be invaluable to these people.

The Minister of State is also aware that many jobs that were undertaken by local authorities down through the years have been neglected due to the reduction in staff. Many such jobs, such as hedge-trimming or the opening of water run-offs on regional and country roads to alleviate flooding, have not happened to the degree that many communities would wish. Such activities could be carried out under the scheme even without the use of anything mechanical. Under the auspices of village enhancement schemes, activities such as the restoration of walls and so on are projects with which people would be delighted. In addition, the blight of litter must of course be dealt with. However, will health and safety considerations be paramount in the implementation of any such scheme? This is evident when one travels on the motorways where, if someone is cutting a hedge, approximately five vehicles are deployed to support that activity. Will such considerations hamper this activity in any way?

I wish to make one final point to the Minister of State. While I had been looking forward to having the Minister, Deputy Hogan, address this matter, the Minister of State should bring it back to him. Many people are still hopeful that at some time in the future the social employment schemes that were operated by the county councils will come back into play. Under such schemes, people worked a 40-hour week, for which they received a decent week's wages. Could the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government give consideration to taking on people under the JobsPlus scheme, in which half of the social welfare payment is paid to an employer to employ someone? This scheme could be used to employ people for two years with a decent-sized wage.