Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the person that will be in charge of the review of the community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6253/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Following the reductions in the CE training and materials grant announced in the Budget, the Department of Social Protection commenced a review of the financial resources of individual schemes. This review is scheduled to be completed by the end of March and all sponsors have been contacted by Department officers to brief them on the review.

Following the completion of the reviews a Stakeholder Conference will be held to seek views and assist the development of future policy in this area.

Separately, the Community Employment Scheme is included in a second review of the overall range of employment support, activation and work schemes operated by the Department, to assess their contribution to the Department's policy objective of supporting people of working age into employment. It is being carried out by the Department and is expected to be completed by the end of March. The outcome of this review will guide future policy development.

A commitment has been given that no scheme will be forced to close as a result of the reduction in grants whilst the financial review is on-going.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Social Protection to whom the sponsoring groups will make their submissions regarding their respective community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6254/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Following the reductions in the CE training and materials grant announced in the Budget, the Department of Social Protection commenced a review of the financial resources of individual schemes. This review is scheduled to be completed by the end of March. All sponsors have been contacted by Department officers at local level to brief them on the review, discuss their returns and deal with any queries that the sponsors may have. The submissions should be made to these officers.