Community Employment (CE) schemes have acted as "the cement" holding local society together and will be retained as part of the Government's employment strategy, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.
The CE programme was strongly criticised by the OECD in a report this week, saying it accounts for more than half of the spending on active labour policies but has had limited effect in creating sustainable jobs.
But, speaking at a jobs event in Dublin today, Mr Gilmore said: “The CE schemes have made a huge contribution to preparing people to returning to work. They make a huge contribution to community effort right across the country… and they also have a very good track record in preparing people for returning to employment.”
While they would be “remain part of our total employment effort”, the OECD “did give us some pointers” about how to improve it and other job creation efforts.
Mr Gilmore also staunchly defended Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton amid renewed opposition criticism over the pace of progress on labour market reform. "There was no action taken worthwhile on activation in the labour market until Joan Burton became Minister for Social Protection and transformed that department from one that was simply paying out benefits… to one that is actively working to getting people back to work.
“She has changed the entire philosophy of that department. It is now a department where your first day out of work is also your first day on your way back to employment, and the initiatives she has introduced are not pilot initiatives; they are piloted when they start but they are now becoming very much part of the mainstream of activity.”
The Tanaiste was speaking on a forum on youth unemployment in Dun Laoghaire hosted by Dublin Labour MEP Emer Costello.
Community groups in the area are seeking access to a promised €6 billion EU Youth Guarantee fund, which is aimed at ensuring young people are offered meaningful employment or education within four months of becoming unemployed. Next month a pilot project under the scheme will start in Ballymun, Dublin one of less than 20 such projects across Europe.
"It is not yet clear what share Ireland will receive of the overall €6bn," said Ms Costello. " This issue needs to be clarified as soon as possible."
