Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection what specifically is meant in the report Community Employment Financial Review of Schemes when it recommends on page nine that the budget for training be held by community services in each region; will individual community employment schemes now not be awarded the training part of their budget; the reason for this recommendation; if it results in any savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47965/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The CE Financial Review recommended that the budget for training be held by Community Services in each region. The individual scheme allocation has been agreed with schemes by the Department of Social Protection. The budget for training on CE now stands at €5.5m; this is an increase of €1.2m on the original budget for 2012. This equates to a training grant of approximately €250 per place annually. This arrangement allows for a flexible response and enables local offices to re-allocate the training budget between schemes if required, once the Divisional Budget is not exceeded. Thus achieving improved utilisation of the training budget.

Each CE Scheme has received an indicative budget as agreed between the sponsor and the DSP Officer. Schemes can utilise the CE Advance Payment to offset training fees which are required to be paid in advance. This will be reimbursed to the scheme on receipt and approval of invoices. The training allocation for each CE participant is approved by the DSP Officer based on the CE Individual Learner Plan submitted by the CE Supervisor.

In allocating the budget to Schemes, the Department of Social Protection has taken into account if training can be accessed at no cost from FÁS or the VECs. In addition access to the Springboard Programme which provides access to 3rd level courses without incurring fees is now available to CE participants, once a participant satisfies the entry criteria.

For many CE participants, CE is the main avenue to gaining qualifications and making up for lost learning opportunities in the past. This is recognised in the current arrangements.