Written answers

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Department of Social Protection

Community Employment Schemes

9:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 334: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a community employment scheme in respect of an association (details supplied) in County Mayo. [4922/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Due to the current economic circumstances and the need for the Department of Social Protection to find savings of €475 million in Budget 2012, it was necessary to examine all aspects of Departmental expenditure. This has resulted in the following changes being made to the Community Employment (CE) scheme, which were announced as part of Budget 2012:

1. A reduction in the training and materials grants from €1,500 to €500 per participant per annum;

2. The ending of the concurrent entitlement to a CE payment and a social welfare assistance payment for new CE entrants;

3. The ending of the dual payment of Qualified Child Dependent Increases to CE participants in receipt of certain DSP payments.

In relation to the reduction in the training and materials grant the Department will seek to minimise the effects of these changes on those schemes most affected and will examine the income and expenditure of schemes with reference to their capacity to absorb the changes made to the grant.

I have directed that a review of the financial resources of individual schemes be completed by the end of March. The purpose of the review is to examine the income and funding of sponsoring organisations in terms of their ability to continue to deliver the programme. As part of the review alternative sources of support will be examined, particularly the level of funding from other State agencies. 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 outcome of each review will provide a clear picture of the core funding required for each CE scheme. This will assist my Department in ensuring a fair distribution of the funding available for these schemes.

I have given assurances to community and voluntary organisations that no CE scheme will be forced to close as a result of the reductions in training and material grants, pending the completion of this review at the end of March.

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