Galway Bay fm newsroom - A Galway TD has challenged the Taoiseach over the government's committment to the Community Employment scheme.
The programme is designed to help disadvantaged people or the long-term unemployed to get back to work through part-time and temporary placements in their local communities.
Nearly 22 thousand people across Ireland are employed in CE schemes.
Galway West TD Noel Grealish says the government is constantly changing the terms of the scheme - making it more difficult for potential employers to get involved.
He says changes have resulted in a drop in productivity, and are having a negative impact on community groups.
Deputy Grealish also says supervisors and sponsors who run the scheme are struggling to earn a living.
Speaking in response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the CE supervisors are not employees of the State - and therefore their pensions are the responsibility of the employer.
