Impact, the union which represents community employment supervisors, has called on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to clarify the Government's position on the cutbacks. It says it has received conflicting signals from the Tánaiste and Mr Kitt.
FÁS, the state training agency responsible for funding Community Employment schemes, says there are no plans to cut back on key areas. Drug rehabilitation, provision of childcare services and the rapid programme initiative for designated disadvantaged areas, including the Border, Midlands and West region, would continue.
The agency's spokesman, Mr Greg Craig, said yesterday the agency would fund those projects through its participation in national framework agreements. He said the cutbacks in Community Employment (CE) places was being complemented by jobs for those displaced in other areas.
"The mainstreaming of CE services as outlined under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness commenced with the transfer of CE school services to the Department of Education Science in September," he said. "It is estimated that 1,317 places will be transferred to the Department of Education this year, and 750 places will be transferred to Health Boards during the year."
FÁS would be carrying out an "in-depth review of CE programme in terms of clients' needs, value for money and progression. The outcome expected is to have a sharply-focused programme to assist those who are engaged on temporary CE projects to progress into full-time employment."
By the end of 2002 the estimated number of Community Employment places will be 24,286 and the anticipated long-term unemployment figure will be 21,000. At its peak the schemes employed 40,000.
Meanwhile, the National Community Employment Supervisor Network describes as "inconclusive" the talks with the Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Tom Kitt, on Wednesday.
The network claims the cutbacks are in breach of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The general secretary of the ICTU, Mr Dave Begg, has written to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, expressing similar concerns.
Later Mr Kitt declined to comment on differences between himself and Ms Harney on the issue but said he had arranged for a delegation to meet the chief executive of FÁS, Mr Roddy Molloy, to discuss how changes to CE schemes could be managed.
He said it was normal to try to reduce CE numbers during a period of high employment, but it should be done without adversely affecting vulnerable individuals and communities.
A spokesman for Ms Harney said the decision to cut jobs had been taken by the Cabinet.