Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to address the difficulties that will be faced by community organisations that have no community employment scheme but do have jobs initiative as they gradually lose all their job initiative workers as the scheme is phased out and replaced by community employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19239/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following the recent review of FÁS employment schemes which comprise community employment, CE, social economy and job initiative, JI, I announced that with effect from 10 November 2004, that there would be no compulsory lay offs on JI but that participants would have their contracts renewed for a further term. In circumstances where people leave JI voluntarily, the community organisations may replace them with CE participants. These arrangements are intended to ensure the maintenance of the provision of a network of valuable community services throughout the country.

FÁS employment programmes will provide 25,000 places in 2005. These programmes continue to support local communities in the delivery of services. The continued ring fencing of the essential services of health, childcare and drugs task force clients on CE and the extended participation of older workers will help to ensure that the existing community service support framework will be maintained.