Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that there is no erosion of community employment schemes in relation to the provision of services provided by the Centre for Independent Living. [23424/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I wish to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by Community Employment Projects such as the Centres for Independent Living (CIL) in providing a service to both participants and the community. However due to the current economic circumstances, this Department has had to find significant savings in the Budget for 2012. The reduction in the grant for materials and training represents a reduction of 7.5% of the overall expenditure on Community Employment in 2011. The allowance grants for Supervisors are unchanged, as are the working hours for staff employed under Community Employment.

A financial review of Community Employment (CE) Schemes is underway. All sponsors and projects have been met with and discussions have taken place with regard to the requirements of the schemes, including the above named projects.

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 officials have met with representatives of CIL on a number of occasions and are very mindful of the challenges facing these centres and are very supportive within the parameters set down for Community Employment. There will be no decrease in the number of Community Employment places allocated to CIL in 2012.