Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

348. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will defend community employment schemes in the context of Budget 2014; if she will guarantee that no further cuts will be imposed upon community employment schemes in view of the severe cuts previously imposed; her views on whether community employment schemes are an important initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39790/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Community Employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by the Department and forms an important pillar in the strategy for returning long-term unemployed people to the open labour market. There are 25,300 places (including supervisory positions) which is an increase of 2,000 places over 2012. The budget for 2013 is circa €351m.

CE is an important initiative in addressing the multiple needs of people who are experiencing a range of social and economic issues. It does this through the provision of opportunities within local communities to gain work experience and training qualifications, while at the same time, supporting the delivery of important services to communities.

There has been a re-focus of the CE Programme over the past two years. The broad policy direction for CE in 2013 and future years will be based on the main action points coming from the CE Financial Review, the Review of Employment Supports and Government Policy Statement ‘ Pathways to Work’. The primary objective for CE is to ensure that it is fit for purpose in providing valuable work experience and learning opportunities with supports to a broad cross-section of individuals who, otherwise, would experience great difficulty in accessing employment.