Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the number of placements on community employment schemes in view of the spare capacity in some of the current schemes and the considerable demand for places. [39538/11]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons employed on community employment schemes in 2011, on a county basis in tabular form, and for the Dublin figure if she will provide a breakdown by postal code in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39902/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 256 together.

Community employment helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. Some 1,100 organisations in the community, voluntary and not-for-profit sectors provide work and training placements for participants nationwide. The number of placements available during 2011, including supervisor positions, was of the order of 23,300. The number of persons engaged at the 5th December 2011, including supervisors, was 23,846. The distribution of the placements is set out in the table below. Places are allocated regionally to reflect the underlying level of unemployment. I hope to be able to maintain the same level of placements in 2012. In delivering these placements, the Department of Social Protection/FÁS will continue to operate with sponsor organisations in a flexible manner in order to maximise progression to the labour market and ensure placements are fully utilised, while at the same time facilitating support for the delivery of community services.

TABLE – Distribution of Community Employment Placements