Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 169: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether lone parents and persons with disabilities face substantial challenges in accessing employment and learning; her further views that community employment schemes provide real opportunities regarding employment and training and that she will commit to continuing the payment of one-parent family allowance and disability to persons on community employment schemes. [31801/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Following a review of how FÁS might better support those in receipt of One Parent Family payments, barriers to employment were identified in a number of areas. In addition, a FÁS internal cross-divisional review group in 2008 determined that persons in receipt of a One Parent Family Payment should be able to access FÁS services in a seamless way so that they can avail of access, transfer and progression options through, and across programmes as their training needs dictate.

Towards this end a Social Inclusion Model has been developed and approved for testing by the Board of FÁS following consultations with relevant stakeholders including the Department of Social Protection and the Irish Vocational Education Association. The Social Inclusion Model was tested in 2009 with four groups of lone parents and a final evaluation is pending.

In regard to child care in particular, it is anticipated that the new Child care Employment and Training Support (CETS) Scheme recently introduced by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will help to further remove a significant barrier to the participation of lone parents in employment and learning through the provision for almost 3,000 full-time equivalent child care places for FÁS and VEC clients.

The aim of the Community Employment Programme remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The programme is funded and managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community.