Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people on community employment schemes on 31 October 2007; the maximum duration of these schemes; the budget allocated to FÁS to operate these schemes; the proportion of same paid in salaries to the participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33310/07]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a State body other than FÁS is authorised to operate community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33311/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together.

FÁS, as the state's Training and Employment Authority, is charged with sole responsibility for the overall management and delivery of the Community Employment Programme nationally. I am advised by FÁS that at end October 2007, there were 22,271 employed under the Community Employment Programme. The 2007 budget for Community Employment is €356m of which approximately €322m or 90% is funding that is provided to cover salary and associated costs (PRSI, Child/Adult Dependent etc.).

Community Employment (CE) as 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. The programme is structured to help unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce 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.

The maximum duration that individuals can remain on CE is dependent on the participant's eligibility status. This eligibility criteria are generally based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments. Typically, participants can avail of periods of between 1 and 6 years.

In November 2004, to cater for older workers in particular, I revised the 3-year CE capping to allow those of 55 years of age and over to avail of a 6-year period on CE (based on participation since 3rd April 2000). Subsequently, the participation limit for persons eligible for CE based on a Social Welfare disability-linked payment (including those under 55) was increased by a further 1 year. These measures were introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants and participants with a disability may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.

FÁS is continuing to develop the content of the CE programme. The new approach involves the introduction of an "Individual Learner Planning Process" which is focusing on meeting the learning needs of participants. The Individual Learner Plan is providing for the planning, organising and recording of the work experience, training and development that each participant receives while working on CE. It also includes further training and development for supervisors, a new application process and quality assurance procedures.

Under this Individualised Approach FÁS has proposed four new FETAC Awards relevant to both CE and JI learners, including:

Certificate in Personal and Social Employment Skills Level 3

Certificate in Vocational Employment Skills Level 3

Certificate of Applied Employment Skills Level 4

Certificate in Specific Employment Skills Level 5

These new awards will facilitate all the planned learning completed on CE or JI by each participant being rolled up into the achievement of a FETAC award. This will provide added value to the learner and will support their progression onto further training or employment.

The provision of places is managed through a standardised application process between regional FÁS offices and local Sponsor/Community Organisations. FÁS makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. I should say that this Government will continue to support into the future the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities.