Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding community development officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43590/14]

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

There are currently five Community Development Officers, (CDOs), in Kerry, supporting the delivery of Community Employment (CE) schemes, Jobs Clubs and Employability Kerry.

Personnel changes in the past year have meant that two staff from other areas within the Department have recently been allocated and trained to work in Community Services. They are in the process of increasing the number of CE schemes they administer.

In common with all Government Departments, the Department must operate within an Employment Control Framework target, set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. To support the Department’s activation commitments under the Pathways to Work Programme and the development of Intreo services nationally, it has been necessary to review the administration of all its services including the community services. The reference to eight CDOs is historic and attaches to a period prior to the integration into the Department.

Community Services represents an important area of departmental operations, in particular given its increasing role in support of the Pathways to Work activation agenda for jobseekers and the Department is committed to supporting resourcing for these functions.