Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress he has made on the work to welfare scheme; when he expects the scheme to be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45314/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Activation and support for those who are unemployed is a key priority for Government. Earlier this year, the Taoiseach announced a number of changes to improve the delivery of employment, training and community services to the public by bringing together related responsibilities in these areas. These changes included the restructuring of Departmental responsibilities with the objective of providing a stream-lined response to the income support and job search needs of people who are unemployed.

In this context, my Department is devising proposals for the development of new initiatives which will offer social employment opportunities. This new initiative will be an important element in the development and delivery of employment and community services and will aim to provide quality work opportunities to the unemployed and beneficial outcomes to the community. A key feature of the new scheme will be to provide a new activation route that will support unemployed people in remaining job-ready for re-entry to employment as the economic environment improves. Referrals under these new initiatives will operate in tandem with the improved processes being developed under the national employment action plan.

Considerable work is required on these proposals before they come on stream and take their place within the suite of activation measures aimed at supporting unemployed people. Details of the roll out of this initiative will be made available as soon as possible.