Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2438/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1The Community Employment programme provides a very important and valued contribution to social employment, training and progression for unemployed people. Furthermore, many Community Employment schemes provide vital community services right across the country.

There are currently 1,143 CE schemes in operation nationally with 23,300 participants. The overall estimated budget stands at €315,194 million for 2012.

As this area has only recently come under the Department of Social Protection, I have asked for an initial review of the financial resources of all schemes to be completed in March 2012. Standard templates have been developed and issued to the employment officers involved. The review will be carried out between local CE sponsors and the Departmental Employment Officer responsible for the scheme under local management.

The discussion that will be undertaken with schemes will be conducted in an enabling manner and all support possible will be provided to help the schemes to remain viable. Development officers are currently making initial contact with schemes. In addition to these local discussions, discussion and consultation with the main representative bodies and stakeholders involved in schemes will take place over the coming weeks in relation to funding. I can assure you that this review will be completed by the end of March.

Following on from changes to the training and materials grant for Community Employment schemes announced in Budget 2012, I have made a commitment that no Community Employment Scheme would close pending the completion of this review.

The Government has been clear that in the event that the changes in the training and material grant announced in the Budget create financial difficulties for schemes, the Department of Social Protection will continue to provide funding for those schemes and funding has been made available in this context.

Community employment participants can continue to avail of education and training programmes that are available to them free of charge from existing State funded providers. This facility will also form part of the arrangements that will be developed as part of the establishment of SOLAS.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the details of the planned review of community employment projects, including the make-up of the review body; the criteria being used for the review; the methodology being used for the review; if academic experts, those involved in running CE schemes and participants in CE schemes will be provided with an opportunity to provide input into the criteria, methodology, conduct and outcome of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2439/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1The Community Employment programme provides a very important and valued contribution to social employment, training and progression for unemployed people. Furthermore, many Community Employment schemes provide vital community services right across the country. There are currently 1,143 CE schemes in operation nationally, with 23,300 participants. The overall estimated budget stands at €315,194 million for 2012.

I have asked for an initial review of the financial resources of all schemes to be completed in March 2012. The review will be carried out at scheme level, between local CE sponsors and the Departmental Employment Officer responsible for the scheme under local management. The outcomes will inform the overall approach to be taken by DSP in implementing these reductions.

The terms of reference for the review have been circulated to regional management. They are as follows:

- To examine the income and funding of sponsoring organisations in terms of their ability to continue the programme with reduced funding from DSP. There are community and voluntary sponsoring organisations that receive funding from a multiplicity of state agencies.

- To quantify the expenditure on training provided and the qualifications achieved by participants.

- Alternative sources of support will be examined, particularly with reference to funding from other State agencies to avoid duplication.

- To establish if income is generated by scheme activity and the potential for utilisation of these funds to cover project costs.

The review process has commenced and Department staff have begun engagement with Sponsors and Community Supervisors at local level. Staff have been advised that where schemes have committed expenditure to eligible costs and where this has been approved by regional staff under existing arrangements, this will be reimbursed.

The Government has been clear that in the event that the changes in the training and material grant announced in the Budget create financial difficulties for schemes, the Department of Social Protection will continue to provide funding for those schemes and funding has been made available in this context.