Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, with regard to the cut to the training and materials grant for community employment schemes announced in budget 2012, if she stands by her previous statement that, in the event that this cut creates financial difficulties for schemes that would otherwise be viable, her Department will be in a position to fund such schemes from within the overall Department budget; if she stands by the previous commitment that no CE scheme will close pending the completion of the forthcoming review; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a cut of €14,000 in the training and materials grant to the community employment scheme (details supplied) is to result in the closure of that scheme on 20 January; and if she will make a commitment that the scheme will receive the necessary funding, totalling just €1,200 per month, to allow it to stay open pending the completion of the review. [3540/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On Friday, 20 January, an agreement was reached with the National Disabled Angling Facility to continue operation pending completion of the national review of materials/training expenditure on Community Employment projects.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, with regard to the cut to the training and materials grant for community employment schemes announced in budget 2012, if any analysis or study was done prior to budget 2012 on the impact of these cuts on the viability of CE schemes; what this analysis concluded; and whether she was briefed or advised prior to budget 2012 that these cuts could lead to the closure of the scheme in Aughrim or other schemes. [3541/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Community Employment schemes provide a very important and valued contribution to social employment, training and progression for unemployed people. Furthermore, many Community Employment schemes provide vital community services, not only in Waterford, but 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.

Following on from changes to the materials and training grant for Community Employment schemes announced in Budget 2012, I have directed that an initial review of the financial resources of all schemes will commence in January and shall be completed in March 2012. The outcomes of this review will inform the overall approach to be taken by my Department in implementing these changes. No Community Employment Scheme will close pending the completion of this review. Any scheme facing specific immediate difficulties can contact local Department management staff to discuss supports and solutions.

The purpose of this review is to examine the income and funding of sponsoring organisations in terms of their ability to continue deliver the programme. It is also being carried out in the context that there are community and voluntary sponsoring organisations that receive funding from a multiplicity of state agencies. Alternative sources of support will be examined, particularly with reference to funding from other state agencies to avoid duplication. The review will also seek to establish if income is generated by scheme activity and the potential for utilisation of these funds to cover project costs.

The Department of Social Protection funds and operates a wide range of initiatives to support the unemployed and other recipients of social welfare. Initial work on a review of certain activation measures, including Community Employment has commenced. The format of the review has recently been agreed and it will take a number of months to complete.

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. In the event that the changes in the training and material grant announced in the Budget creates financial difficulties for schemes that would otherwise be viable, my Department will explore the options in relation continued funding for such schemes.

Following extensive discussions with the Board of National Disabled Angling Facility, a decision has been made by the Board following assurances by Department of Social Protection of funding that they will continue to operate a Community Employment project at Aughrim, pending the conclusion of a national review of materials/training expenditure at the end of March 2012.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Social Protection, with regard to the imminent closure of a community employment scheme (details supplied) resulting from the cut to the training and materials grant for community employment schemes announced in budget 2012, if any estimate has been made of the costs to the State and local authority arising from the closure of this scheme, such as may arise from additional social welfare payments, and from the local authority having to take over responsibility for litter collection and other civic tasks from the CE scheme; whether any analysis has been done on the value of the scheme to the local community and to tourism in County Wicklow; and if so, what this analysis concluded. [3542/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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On Friday, 20 January, an agreement was reached with the National Disabled Angling Facility to continue operation pending completion of the national review of materials/training expenditure on Community Employment projects.