82 Ms M. McGennis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of community employment schemes in operation. [20925/99]

83 Ms M. McGennis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people employed on community employment schemes. [20926/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together.

At the end of September 1999, there were 36,634 persons participating in 2,284 community employment, CE, projects nationwide. This level of participation is in accordance with the target average participation rate for 1999 of 37,500, agreed with the social partners following the restructuring of the CE programme in July.