Written answers

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Community Employment Schemes

9:00 pm

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she is reviewing the terms of reference of community enterprise schemes in view of the significant rise in unemployment; if she will require a re-directing of some of these schemes appropriate to their location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19131/09]

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 133: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on increasing significantly the number of places available on community employment schemes in view of increasing unemployment numbers. [19132/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.

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 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 aim of CE still remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. FÁS makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. FÁS also operates the programme flexibly as far as possible to ensure the continuation of community projects.

In April's budget I provided €6.6 million for 400 additional CE places bringing the total number of CE places to 22,700.

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. I am keeping the operation of the scheme under constant review in the context of the current difficult unemployment situation.

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