Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider altering the current community employment scheme or social economy programme to provide opportunities for communities to employ youth officers to co-ordinate events in local areas for young persons in view of the rise in anti-social behaviour and the significant investment that is occurring in capital rather than social infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30551/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The main purpose of the community employment programme operated by FÁS is to provide work experience and training for the long term unemployed and disadvantaged groups and thereby enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market.

Following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy programmes — on 10 November 2004 I announced that the three year cap for participants on community employment was raised to six years for those over 55 to ensure the maintenance of essential community services, particularly in rural areas where it had been found that difficulties existed in finding replacement participants. I have no plans to make any further changes of this type to the community employment scheme.

A review of the social economy programme, SEP, highlighted the valuable role it plays in the delivery of community services throughout the country. In light of this, discussions are taking place between my Department and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs about the transfer to that Department.

There is nothing to prevent projects of the type to which the Deputy refers being funded under the community employment or social economy programme. I would point out, however, that to be eligible for funding under the SEP, enterprises are required to be established as legal entities.