Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the possibility of increasing the number of personnel involved in community work through FÁS, Tús, the rural social scheme or any other structure, in view of the fact that there are now almost 440,000 persons unemployed; her views on whether it would not only be in the interests of the participants to have the opportunity to work 19 to 20 hours per week, but would also improve the services available to the elderly, disabled and communities in general; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38202/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The allocation for community employment in 2011 will allow for the engagement of 23,300 people on the various projects throughout the country. The rural social scheme currently employs 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff in 34 local development areas and in the Gaeltacht. Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, currently employs over 1,800 people and is on course to employ in excess of 2,000 in early December with the aim of achieving full rollout with 5,000 placements in 2012. Additionally, my Department provides funding to some 430 service providers under the community services programme which supports some 2,800 people in work directly and a further 900 indirectly. Consideration of the expansion of these initiatives can only be undertaken in the context of the resources allocated to my Department for 2012.