I wonder what it is doing for our international reputation that the national Parliament on several days this week has discussed Garth Brooks at a time when there is a homelessness crisis in the country and there are international incidents such as that referred to in Gaza and the abduction of hundreds of girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria because they want an education.

Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Tánaiste agus tá súil agam go n-éireoidh léi san obair, go h-áirithe san obair ar son daoine ar an imeall.

I have used Leaders' Questions on two occasions to deal with community issues, and I am glad the Tánaiste is present because these will be familiar to her. Initially, I raised the issue of community development projects and programmes and the tendering process that could lead to privatisation, which would mean that many years of experience and insight among people and providers living in the communities and making decisions on their behalf will be undermined. Last week, I raised issues with regard to drugs. At the Taoiseach's request, I forwarded to him the details that I brought to the House's attention and hope they have not been lost in the various power struggles this week for positions.

The common denominator in both issues is the disproportionate cuts that have been suffered in both areas. Cumulatively, community, youth and drugs projects have been cut by 38%. The third area affecting vulnerable communities is community education. Such education services are provided for those who have been most disconnected from the system in their lives, perhaps through leaving school early, being long-term unemployed or being lone parents. Community education is a powerful informal educational tool which is replicated throughout the country. For example, in my constituency, between January and June this year, 430 people participated in accredited programmes with a community education provider. The programmes were child care levels 4 to 6, horticulture level 5, and IT levels 3 and 4. These areas offer great employment opportunities. People are also enabled to progress further.

Community organisations that are FETAC-accredited are legacy providers, and if they want to continue to provide accredited programmes they must engage with the Quality and Qualifications Authority of Ireland which could mean a fee of €5,000 for each participant. They do not have that money. Will there be a fee waiver for community education providers that are doing this valuable work, as opposed to private educators that can afford to charge people?

I thank the Deputy for her good wishes.

With regard to the concerns about ongoing changes in community development, I agree with her that community development, whether in urban or rural areas, is tremendously important to every community in Ireland, and valuable services are provided. Two years ago, after I became Minister, FÁS, which dealt with community development, was taken into my Department and there was a great deal of fear, with many people suggesting this could be the end of public funding of community centres, the end of community employment and so on. I gave an undertaking in the House at the time that not only would it not be under threat but it was my intention, as resources permitted, to expand community development because of the significant role it plays, including in allowing people to return to education and training who may for a variety of reasons have not been employed for a time. Some time after that, we had a debate during which concern was particularly expressed by the Opposition. More than €1 billion is spent by the Department of Social Protection on initiatives such as community employment and the roll-out of new community programmes such as Tús, which have been successful. I understand there has been a great deal of concern about funding for the past seven years among all the organisations involved since the time of the financial collapse of the country. During the seven years prior to that, a great deal of additional funding was available because of the boom, but following the review of the various elements, including the educational elements, and the development of SOLAS, I am convinced that what will emerge is a community education personal development pattern which will focus on people getting involved and, as the Deputy, who has great experience in this area, said, attaining serous qualifications such as FETAC levels 4 and 5 which will enable them to approach employers, whether in the pubic, community or private sectors. Rather than simply saying they have been on a course, they can show they have acquired a qualification that will assist them in securing well-paid employment or progressing further to second or third level education. I understand the concerns of the Deputy, and the Government is committed to emphasising and prioritising community investment, which is so important to communities right around the country.

I hope the Government will take it further and provide the €5,000 waiver I mentioned, because, as the Minister said, community education is working. I refer to two providers in Dublin Central, HACE on Henrietta Street and the Larkin Centre for the Unemployed on the North Strand. There were 20 participants on a community employment scheme, five of whom had to drop out for various reasons. Twelve of the participants achieved distinctions, of whom eight are going on to further education. This is working. Community education providers are being monitored and are engaging with everything that is required of them. However, they feel threatened, and when I questioned the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government about this, he was unable to reassure them that they would not have to pay a €5,000 fee. They do not have that money and that is the bottom line. If such a fee is imposed, they will have to opt out of community education. Because the providers know their communities, they know what is working and the methodologies to use. That is what they have used to ensure people return to full-time employment instead of having to take on part-time manual work.

The providers are engaging but they are asking whether there is a cull in community education. I take it from what the Tánaiste said that she will look into this. The providers cannot afford the €5,000 fee. Many participants do not even have the money to travel to their training. Significant opportunities exist in child care because those who have completed FETAC level 6 are moving on. There is nobody coming in to take those places because there is no incentive and, therefore, the child care facilities are also under threat.

I acknowledge the Deputy's commitment to community development, which is very important. Regarding SOLAS and the new structure under construction, it is very important we have a quality qualifications network. I have worked very hard with officials from my Department to improve the qualifications structure in order that when people go on a community employment scheme for a prolonged period of time, the have an opportunity to get FETAC level 5 and, in some cases, FETAC level 6 qualifications and, as the Deputy said, progress further. I have discussed these issues with people from the Larkin Unemployed Centre and other community groups and organisations. The Department of Social Protection has developed a model of talking to stakeholders and groups and we meet them regularly, for example, we had a five-hour session in Dublin Castle last Friday. SOLAS may undertake similar stakeholder meetings and the model might be useful to other Departments. I will examine this very important matter and return to the Deputy.