Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons on community employment places at 1 January 2003, 1 January 2004, 1 January 2005 and the anticipated numbers at 31 December 2005; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by many community and voluntary groups due to the shortage of community employment places; if changes are planned with regard to eligibility to participate in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37891/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The main purpose of the community employment programme is to provide work experience and training for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups to enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market. FÁS also endeavours to ensure that local communities are supported in the delivery of services particularly in the health, child care and the drugs task force areas, which have been ring-fenced with numbers maintained at the 2002 levels.

As I announced on 10 November last, FÁS employment programmes, which comprise community employment, social economy and job initiative, will provide 25,000 places overall in 2005. I am informed by FÁS that the number of participants on CE was 24,992 on 1 January 2003, 19,848 on 1 January 2004 and 22,194 on 1 January 2005. FÁS anticipates that the numbers on the scheme by year-end will be broadly in line with the January 2005 level.

The increase from three to six years in the period those aged over 55 may participate in CE, which I announced in November, should help to ensure there will be sufficient people available to fill the places on offer. There are no further changes planned regarding the eligibility criteria for the scheme.