Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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210. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason her Department has ceased funding a community arts project (details supplied) in Dublin11; and if she will review this decision in view of the invaluable contribution this project makes to the community. [8143/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The scheme in question has been sponsored and managed by the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB). This Department was advised in December 2014 that, following a strategic review of all their services in the community, the CDETB had decided to wind up the community employment (CE) project that encompassed the Finglas Arts Project.

To facilitate an orderly closure the Department agreed to extend the current project beyond its scheduled finish date which was 31 January 2015. An ‘Amendment to Agreement Contract’ was issued to the CDETB with a revised finish date of 30June 2015 (or sooner if appropriate). This extension was agreed to enable Supervisors on the scheme to engage with all participants and commence work on an exit strategy with immediate effect; to include the transfer of participants to other local projects, employment, or further education. It is also envisaged that, if possible, the two existing CE supervisors will be re-deployed to other projects.