Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 608: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will make a statement on the status of the community employment and jobs initiative schemes; the number of people currently on each scheme; if vacancies that arise in the schemes are being filled; his long-term strategy for the development of the two schemes; and his views on whether this strategy should have been included in Towards 2016 and the new national development plan. [15286/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Community Employment (CE) 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 fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills.

At present, there are approximately 22,500 individuals availing of CE nationally. As participants progress through CE, places continue to be made available for new participants to avail of the programme. Within the context of the Education and Qualifications Act (1999), certified learning has become a key objective for all FÁS funded training. In this context, as part of its continuous improvement processes, FÁS has introduced a new Individual Learner Plan approach to the Community Employment programme. This approach, aimed at systematically supporting the progression of programme participants, is currently being rolled out nationwide. The ILP sets out a profile of the learner development needs both in relation to project skills training and progression training. Career planning and exit strategies form an integral part of the plan.

In addition, FÁS has developed three FETAC Major Awards, two at level 3 and one at level 4, designed to meet the training and progression needs of learners who lack basic educational qualifications, participating on Community Services programmes. These awards provide learners with an opportunity to achieve a nationally recognised major award based on their achievements on CE. The new awards also provide a stepping stone to higher levels on the National Qualifications Framework. The flexible format of the awards will allow for the construction of a programme of learning specifically designed to address the learning needs of the individual learner.

The aim of CE still remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment. FÁS operates the Community Employment Programme at local level in a flexible way in order to meet the needs of the participants and support their progression into employment. Job Initiative (JI) As I announced on the 10th of November 2004, participants on the JI scheme continue to have their contracts renewed. At present, there are about 1,600 participants employed on JI.

In cases of JI participants leaving schemes, where there is local agreement between all parties concerned, Community Employment participants on existing schemes in the locality will be made available to the JI scheme concerned. This promotes a continuation in the levels of service to those seeking employment programme places, the Community in which they work and the service provided. Management of this process is overseen on a local basis through ongoing discussions between FÁS and Sponsor Organisations.

The funding of CE and JI is included in the National Development Plan Sub-Programme for Activation and Participation of groups Outside the Workforce. The CE and JI programmes are also included in the Access to Employment Section of the People of Working component of Towards 2016.