Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when her financial review of community employment schemes will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21543/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A financial review of Community Employment (CE) Schemes is underway. This review of CE Schemes has proved to be a valuable exercise for both the schemes themselves and for my Department. Given the volume and breath of the data being returned, the financial review of CE schemes will take longer than originally envisaged to complete. This will allow more time for schemes to engage with local officials in the finalisation of their respective budgets and for my Department to bring forward improvements to the overall operation of Community Employment which will improve the budgetary situation for schemes. No final allocations of materials and training grants have been made pending completion of the review. The existing commitment in relation to the financial support of schemes will continue to apply. Department Officers are supporting any schemes that have identified a requirement for on-going supports while the review is underway.

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when her review of community employment schemes being carried out by a person (details supplied) will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21544/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Community Employment Scheme is included in a policy review of the overall range of employment support, activation and work schemes operated by the Department. The aim of the review is to assess the schemes, individually and in combination, "in the light of their contribution to the Department's policy objective of supporting people of working age into employment" and to "recommend any changes to the current range of schemes/programmes seen as required on the basis of the analysis carried out".

The review is being carried out by an Assistant Principal Officer of the Department under the overall direction of a Principal Officer. An advanced draft of the review report was completed in March. It is currently subject to oversight from the Policy Committee of the Department, prior to being submitted to senior management for consideration. As is normal for such reviews within the Department, its conclusions and recommendations will also be the subject of consultation with stakeholders of the range of programmes involved. It is envisaged that this consultation will take place in June. A separate financial review of the Community Employment Scheme is also being carried out.