Written answers

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Department of Social Protection

Community Employment Schemes

9:00 pm

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Social Protection following the near closure of two west Limerick community employment schemes recently, if she will outline procedures for acquiring the additional flexibility funding of €1,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19812/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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6153Following changes to the training and materials grant for Community Employment schemes announced in Budget 2012, the Department of Social Protection have made a commitment that no Community Employment Scheme would close pending the completion of a review. This review is now close to completion. All Community Employment Scheme Sponsors are working with the Department's Community Development Officers to ensure that there is adequate funding for the continuation of their Community Employment projects. In West Limerick this process is working successfully and no scheme has had to close as a result of the budget 2012 changes.

The baseline amount of the materials/training grant remains the €500 per participant announced in the Budget. The Department Officials have discretion to make an amount of up to €1,000 per participant available to schemes in respect of the training and materials grant, subject to individual schemes providing a clear and transparent demonstration of need for this level of funding. The onus is on sponsors to make the case for the appropriate level of the grant for their individual scheme. The level of grant sought will have to be justified by the scheme sponsor and will be subject to verification and agreement by the Department on a case by case basis. All discussions with sponsors on these matters are being conducted in a constructive manner and all support is being provided to help the schemes to remain viable.

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