Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of rehabilitative community employment schemes currently up and running here; if she will increase supports for these schemes in view of the fact that the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation recommends that the number of drug specific CE places should be increased and the success of these CE schemes be built upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18866/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The role of FÁS in relation to the National Drugs Strategy is to facilitate the rehabilitation of stabilised drug users and to prepare them to re-enter the active labour market through focused training which will enable them to re-integrate into working life. This is being achieved through participation in a range of FÁS programmes, including Community Employment (CE), and also integration into mainline training aimed at progression into the active labour market.

FÁS aims to promote labour market re-integration through targeted and mainstream initiatives including guidance & support from the referral point which is the FÁS Employment Services/Local Employment Services and pre-CE initiatives to support stabilisation.

Currently, there are 1,000 ring fenced places on Community Employment based in approximately 100 rehabilitative schemes.

The Programme for Government commitment to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation will result in an increase of 300 places Community Employment during the lifetime of the Government. FÁS Community Employment Places are seen as central to the rehabilitation process.

In addition, there are opportunities to access and participate on mainline training programmes in FÁS Training Centres and other FÁS programmes including Local Training Initiative and Community Training Centres. These opportunities promote progression, where possible, back into the labour market.