SOCIAL Protection Minister Joan Burton is supporting calls to increase the number of participants on Community Employment (CE) Schemes throughout the county.

SOCIAL Protection Minister Joan Burton is supporting calls to increase the number of participants on Community Employment (CE) Schemes throughout the county.
However, Minister Burton insists her plans to increase numbers on CE Schemes depend on the support of her Cabinet colleagues in the run up to what promises to be a very difficult budget.
She agrees CE schemes provide valuable local community services and give people who were unemployed for a year or more a better chance to get back into the workplace.
The minister met representatives from a number of CE Schemes throughout Clare who want an increase in overall participants and a commitment to ensure that the work done to enhance the environment in local communities will be appreciated. Representatives also stressed the importance of improving the progression of participants into further education, training and employment.
The Labour Deputy lauded Clare in terms of its initiatives around internships and the Government community employment scheme Tús, which has proven successful, despite scepticism that people would not take up either scheme.
“CE groups in Clare were champions in how this scheme could be organised to the benefit of communities in local areas. It has gone very well. If the budget permits, I would like to expand CE numbers,” she said.
Asked if Tús numbers should be increased considering there are about 10,000 people on the Live Register in Clare, she confirmed this is one issue she is discussing with Government colleagues.
She pointed out there is scope for people to work with county councils to complete environmental works.
Asked if the schemes are providing meaningful employment, the minister confirmed her department are looking at doing more training.
“With an internship, very often people are coming out of college. It is their first step on the jobs ladder and a lot of them are being offered further work.
“We want to make sure that in these schemes the work is meaningful. I know from communities right around the country, they value contribution made by CE for GAA projects or meals on wheels,” she said.
The vital contribution of CE Schemes was also acknowledged by Deputy Joe Carey, who sought an update on eligibility criteria for those currently participating in schemes.
Deputy Carey said a lot of participants and supervisors had contacted his office seeking clarification in relation to their individual schemes.
Having made representations about the need to change eligibility criteria, the minister confirmed to Deputy Carey that participants engaged under the Part-time Integration Option of CE can now be extended into a second consecutive year in up to 10% of cases, where the participant can demonstrate they would benefit from continued participation in terms of additional development and training.
As the number of candidates continues to outstrip the number of vacancies, Deputy Carey encouraged the minister to retain and, where possible, enhance the CE Programme.
Acknowledging Deputy Carey’s support for CE, the minister said she expected he would be conveying his views to Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

Work of CIS and MABS lauded by minister

THE wide range of free independent advice provided by the Citizens’ Information Service (CIS) has been lauded by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton during her visit to the centre on Friday last.
In the first nine months of 2012, Clare’s Citizens’ Information Service dealt with 13,007 callers and answered a total of 22,343 queries.
The minister noted the CIS supports individuals in difficult personal circumstances through the provision of free, confidential and independent information, advice and advocacy. Nationally, CISs have seen an increase in the complexity of people’s issues and in the levels of distress arising from the current challenging times.
This is fully reflected in Clare with 47% of enquiries so far this year relating to social welfare and 10.5% to employment issues.
Despite the high volume of queries, the commitment of the staff to providing a quality service to people is exceptional, the minister noted.
She also highlighted the close collaboration between the local Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) office and CIS, which is evidenced by a cross referral policy and joint initiative including the recent seminar on the Personal Insolvency Bill and a community education initiative for the Traveller community.
Minister Burton acknowledged the excellent work of the Citizens Information Board, the statutory agency with responsibility for the development and support of the national network of CIS and MABS.