David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 5 December 2006, his plans to increase the number of community employment scheme places ring-fenced for the delivery of health services; if the number of places ring-fenced has remained constant since 2002/2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8575/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Community Employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary basis. Community Employment helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and by assisting them to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills.

To this end and in order to support the delivery of essential services, the ring-fencing and prioritisation of places for health related services, including assistance for persons with disabilities, childcare and Drugs Task Force clients was introduced over the period 2002/2003. As a result, service provision levels by Community Employment participants within these sectors was and continues to be maintained at a constant level.

In November 2004, following a review of FAS Employment Schemes, it was announced that Community Employment places supporting the delivery of health services will continue to be ring-fenced.

The total number of places spread across the three ring-fenced sectors, namely Drugs, Childcare and Health, is approximately 6,000 which represents 27% of current places and there are no plans to increase this number.