Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together.

At present 1,815 community employment child care places are ring-fenced for clients on community employment directly involved in the delivery of child care services. These places have been ring-fenced for the past three years. Further numbers are involved in support and provision of other services for projects with child care facilities, for example, playgroup assistants, administrators, general maintenance etc.

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a statement (details supplied) in the review of the Government programme in August 2004, in view of the fact that the Irish Wheelchair Association is dependent on community employment workers who after a one-year period may have to be replaced resulting in no continuity of services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26811/04]

Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will work closely with the Department of Health and Children to mainstream health related community employment scheme participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26816/04]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he intends to take in relation to the thousands of jobs initiative and community employment workers who are currently reaching the end of their contract; and if he has given consideration to a new community work programme for older persons in the jobs initiative programme who carry out important and necessary tasks for their communities. [26860/04]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans he has to re-examine FÁS and community employment schemes with respect to the position of applicants over 50 years of age seeking further placement after their period of three years in view of the difficulties that such persons have in obtaining employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27190/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 318, 320 and 323 together.

The community employment, CE, and jobs initiative, JI, programmes provide work experience and training opportunities for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups with the aim of progressing participants to a job in the open labour market. Participants move from these programmes after an agreed period of support and development, which is usually from one to three years. Vacancies become available on a rolling basis as participants finish their term and are replaced by long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged persons.

The terms and conditions of participation on CE and the future direction of JI are currently under review. In this regard there has been extensive consultation with key stakeholders and the social partners over the past year on the future direction of FÁS labour market programmes. All submissions received as part of this process are being fully considered and will help inform the outcome of the review.

FÁS is endeavouring to support local communities and organisations such as theIrish Wheelchair Association in the services they wish to deliver while keeping the focus of the scheme on securing jobs for participants in the open labour market. There are no plans at present to mainstream community employment programmes.