Special debate on CES places rejected

The Government rejected an opposition demand for a special debate on the provision of 5,000 extra places on the Community Employment Scheme (CES).

The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, said adequate time had been given to the debate on the Estimates last week.

On Tuesday 30 Fianna Fáil TDs urged Mr McCreevy to allocate extra resources to the scheme on Budget day. All Fianna Fáil TDs present in the House yesterday voted with the Government when a division was called on the opposition proposal.

When Mr Brendan Howlin (Labour, Wexford) remarked yesterday that Fianna Fáil deputies had changed their minds on the issue since the Estimates debate, Mr McCreevy said: "At least the Fianna Fáil party has 40 backbenchers to talk about."

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, suggested that Mr McCreevy should be given an opportunity "to make a statement on changes in the Estimates to cater for 5,000 extra jobs in community employment schemes in respect of which the Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, received a standing ovation as a result of 40 signatures having been placed before the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting."

He added that it would be in the interests of the State to know what was going on.

The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said that Mr McCreevy, "who is considered to be wrong by the Minister of State responsible for community employment", should participate in the debate.

"We will be happy to facilitate the 40 Fianna Fáil backbenchers and give them whatever support we can in restoring the 5,000 places and undoing the damage that has been done to community employment schemes," he said.

He suggested that, rather than dividing the House on the matter, Mr McCreevy, who was taking yesterday's Order of Business on behalf of the Government, should provide time later in the day to discuss a matter "tearing the heart out of disadvantaged communities."

Mr Dan Boyle (Green Party, Cork South Central) also supported the demand for a debate, as did Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan).

Mr Ó Caoláin accused the Minister of "thinking more of thoroughbreds than he does of the poor and needy in society".

There were no defections on the Government's side, and the opposition was voted down by 70 votes to 47.