Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to review community employment schemes in relation to core services provided to persons with disabilities; his views on core funding in these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5119/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Community employment, CE, is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons, including those with a disability, with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed-term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their cycle of unemployment through a return to a work routine. It also assists them in the enhancement and development of both their technical and personal skills. A significant proportion of CE participants are persons with disabilities.

In November 2004, I announced a number of changes to FÁS employment schemes. These changes included the maintenance of 25,000 places on community employment schemes, job initiative and social economy during 2005 as there is still a need for these schemes for people who find it difficult to secure employment. The ring-fencing and prioritisation of places for health related services, including those for persons with disabilities, was introduced in order to maintain the delivery of essential services. As a result, health-related service provision levels have been maintained at a constant level.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 405: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his proposals in regard to core funding for community employment staff supporting essential services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5356/06]

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. On 10 November 2004, following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy programmes — I announced that community employment places supporting the delivery of health services will continue to be ring-fenced. These arrangements have benefited and will continue to benefit the Irish Wheelchair Association as regards the provision of carers.