Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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483. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the cut that sees the loss of a community employment supervisor in the Community LYNKS drugs project, Inchicore, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12925/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Officials from the Department met with representatives from the Community Lynks Special Drugs CE Scheme on 27 February last. I understand that there was a temporary supervisory post due for completion of a six month contract on 28 February and that this has been extended for one month to facilitate the scheme with regard to maintaining a sufficient number of participants to warrant this post. The matter will then be reviewed.

In the meeting with the Community Lynks representatives, it was confirmed that there will be no change in the numbers of places on the scheme - 40 approved places. The scheme currently has 36 participants. The scheme has been asked to review the intake of participants to ensure sustainability of take-up of places on to the scheme. Furthermore, they have been advised that the Department will sanction approval for additional places if the sponsors show a demand for such places.

CE schemes involved in the drug rehabilitation strand have a lower participant to supervisor ratio due to the different nature of the clients participating on those schemes. The standard ratio is 7 drugs rehabilitation referred participants and 2 mainstream participants to 1 supervisory post for dedicated drugs rehabilitation schemes. This adjusted ratio was agreed, in consultation with statutory, community and voluntary sector representatives, under the nine special conditions to support the delivery of drug rehabilitation places on CE.