Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Táim ag ardú ceist inniu atá ardaithe cheana féin againn agus muid ag caint ar chúrsaí coimirce sóisialaí.

One of the greatest misnomers we have in a Government Department is that of the Department of Social Protection, because the last thing it seems to be doing is protecting society. I am quite concerned about the changes that are happening due to the JobPath scheme and the privatisation of that system, which was introduced under a previous Labour Party Minister, something of which it should be ashamed. We are now seeing the implications of the scheme.

I have been contacted by representatives of a scheme in Galway, the Rahoon Family Centre, which is under severe pressure. Over the past 20 years it has employed three CE workers to deliver its programmes to support families in a disadvantaged area in Galway. It has lost the workers because, I believe, the private companies running the JobPath system are hoovering up anybody who may be eligible for a CE scheme. That renders them ineligible to enter CE schemes, which means that CE schemes across the country cannot be resourced in order to carry out the work other Senators have mentioned.

This is a retrograde step. When we raised this matter previously, we were told a review of the scheme was ongoing. I receive calls about schemes in the County Galway area every week where this is becoming a major issue. It is wrong and we need to address it. Therefore, I call for a debate with the Minister for Social Protection to discuss the problems the new JobPath scheme is causing across the country and its privatised nature .

We also need to examine the money that is available to CE schemes from a materials grants point of view. Many schemes have participants, but have no materials grants in order to be able to do the required work. We have been repeatedly told by the Government that the numbers of those unemployed are decreasing. If that is the truth and the figures are not being massaged by job activation schemes, more money should be available in the Department of Social Protection which could be used to provide more materials grants. I would like to discuss the matter when the Minister is available.