Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

704. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if managers of local community employment schemes are permitted to request financial contributions from community groups to support the running costs of the scheme; if so, the relevant guidelines regarding requests for such financial donations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54058/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The aim of Community Employment (CE) is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. In addition, it helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine.

CE projects are typically sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary and community organisations. Such projects provide a valuable service to local communities while at the same time providing training and educational opportunities to jobseekers.

The Department’s priority in supporting CE is having access to schemes that can provide job seekers and other vulnerable groups with good quality work experience and training qualifications to support their progression into employment.

My Department provides funding towards the cost of employee wages (CE supervisors and participants), as well as material funding necessary for the effective operation of the scheme and training costs for participants.

The sponsor of a CE scheme is also aware that matching funds may be required to meet project costs. Such other funding requirements are not generally part of the Department’s remit. However if a sponsor or a community group has a specific concern related to their CE scheme, they should contact the Community Development Officer with responsibility for the scheme in their local Intreo Centre.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.