Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on launching a new jobs scheme in close liaison with business with the objectives of reintegrating graduates of community employment schemes into full or part-time jobs in the economy; and his further views on pilot programmes in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in this regard. [16214/08]

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 with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine and assists them in enhancing/developing both their technical and personal skills. The aim of CE still remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment.

This Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. In this regard, we are keeping the operation of the Scheme under constant review. I have no plans to launch a new pilot or other employment programme.