Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the employment initiative programmes established by his Department in rural Ireland and in urban Ireland in agreement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in each of the past five years; the cost of implementation; the number of jobs created; the areas where they were created; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18833/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has progressed a number of employment initiatives in both urban and rural areas over the last five years, in agreement and consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

In 2006, responsibility for the Community Services Programme (CSP) was transferred to my Department from FÁS. The cost of implementing the CSP in 2006 was €37 million and in 2007 was €43 million. 1,657 jobs were created in 2006, and this increased to 1,937 in 2007. In both years the jobs created were created in 26 counties.

The Rural Social Scheme was launched by my Department in 2004. This was launched following consultation with FÁS and other Government Departments. The details requested by the Deputy in respect of this Scheme are provided in tabular format.

In co-operation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, my Department has also established a special enterprise scheme for non-Gaeltacht offshore islands. Since the scheme became operational in 2006, five projects in all have been granted assisted to end of 2007. Grant applications are administered through the County Enterprise Boards in Counties Sligo, Mayo, Galway and Cork. In 2006, the cost of implementing the scheme was €56,875 and a total of 5 jobs were created in Cork. In 2007, the cost of implementing the scheme was €185,000 and 4 full time jobs and 9 part time jobs were created in Cork and Mayo.

My Department also operates the LEADER programmes, which are co-funded with the EU, and the focus of these programmes is to assist and encourage social and economic development in rural areas. The LEADER programme 2001-2006 was established over six years ago by my Department and developed in consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As the Deputy may be aware, I intend to launch the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 in the immediate future. The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 will provide a significant focus on enterprise, with almost €50 million available for the support of business creation and development.

The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for the creation of employment in Gaeltacht areas rests with Údarás na Gaeltachta, rather than directly with my Department. Information in regard to assistance provided by Údarás na Gaeltachta and numbers of jobs created is published in that organisation's Annual Report and Accounts which, under sections 18 and 19 of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979, are laid annually before each of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Western Development Commission, another body that also comes within the ambit of my Department, has responsibility for fostering and promoting economic and social development, including job creation in the Western Region. Information in relation to the assistance and support provided by the Western Development Commission, and numbers of jobs created is published in that organisation's Annual Report and Accounts, which are also laid annually before each of the Houses of the Oireachtas.