Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in relation to the setting up of a community involvement scheme that will allow for people in receipt of job seeker's allowance to participate in community work such as maintaining roadside vergers and general maintenance of community resorts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55205/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In general, work such as maintaining roadside vergers and general maintenance of community resorts is a function for local authorities and not for community organisations. Elements of work to enhance the environment for local communities is undertaken under a number of work placement and related schemes funded and managed by my Department, namely, the Rural Social Scheme, Community Employment and Tús – the community work placement initiative. These are organised at a local level with local authority engagement. As part of the recent budget package for my Department, I announced my intention to introduce a social employment scheme in co-operation with local authorities. Development work on this scheme will begin immediately with a view to having it operational by the middle of 2013.