Burton insists money will be found for ‘viable’ CE schemes

SOCIAL Protection Minister Joan Burton was forced into a second climbdown on her budget proposals after pressure from her party TDs and warnings that the future of hundreds of community employment schemes now lay in doubt.

Protesters gathered at Leinster House yesterday over budget measures which will cut training funds for scheme participants and remove top-up payments for those already on welfare.

Labour TDs were confronted by angry single mothers and community scheme workers but admitted they would be voting for the budget in the Dáil.