The society of St Vincent de Paul has expressed its concern at the "demise" of Community Employment schemes.
Government plans to end the schemes in schools will see some of the most "frail and marginalised" people "dumped back on the dole", according to the trade union Impact. The president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for special arrangements for disadvantaged schools - where the majority of school CE participants work - while the scheme is phased out.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced earlier this month that it was "mainstreaming" jobs now done in schools by CE scheme participants by transferring the £46 million it spent through FAS to the Department of Education and Science.
About 33,500 people take part in CE schemes, of whom about 4,000 participate as caretakers, classroom assistants and secretaries in schools.
The scheme allows a person, aged 25 or over who has been unemployed for over a year, to work for up to 20 hours and earn about £30 a week more than they would get on the dole. They are recruited and paid by FAS, though they work in schools.
Participants have a CE supervisor who advises them on interviews and CV preparation as well as ensuring they carry out their duties.
The scheme will end in schools from September and the jobs currently provided under it will be advertised on the open market by the schools. These will be paid for with grants from the Department.
The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said: "At this stage of our economic development it is entirely appropriate that these services be delivered by . . . Government departments . . . rather than through FAS under community employment schemes." She indicated that plans were under way to end the scheme in other Departments, notably in the health services.
However, doubts have been raised about whether many of those on CE schemes would get the jobs if they had to apply for them on the open market. There are also questions about whether schools, would be able to afford those services if they had to pay for them.
Ms Peggy O'Rourke, principal of St Louis Infants School in Rathmines, Dublin, where there are five CE workers, said: "Some are so vulnerable and frail when they come to us first, they wouldn't get through an interview. They would be a burden to the school if it wasn't for the fact that there is a CE supervisor as a contact there for them to get them started."
Ms Mary O'Grady, CE supervisor at St Louis when the scheme was established 13 years ago, says it got well-qualified people off the live register. "Now it's for the hard-core unemployed who wouldn't get a start if it wasn't for this scheme."
The Society of St Vincent de Paul has a "huge concern for these people", said its spokesman, Mr Liam O'Dwyer. "The scheme gives a sizeable number of marginal people access to the workplace. We have already indicated that we are unhappy about this and that we have concerns about CE's demise."
A Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman said it was not its intention "to elbow marginalised people out of jobs" and anyone on a scheme would be allowed to work out their contract.
Mr Tom Brady, assistant general secretary of Impact, which represents supervisors, said it had three main concerns.
"One is how the Department of Education is going to guarantee cover in disadvantaged schools; we have a major problem with about 200 CE supervisors being made redundant in September, and then there's the question about the most frail and marginalised people being dumped back on the dole."