29.— (1) The Principal Act is amended by inserting the following Part after Part 12:

“PART 12A

Employment schemes and other schemes and programmes

Functions of Minister in relation to employment schemes and related schemes and programmes.

359A.— (1) The Minister may—

(a) provide, or arrange for and co-ordinate the provision of—

(i) employment schemes,

(ii) assistance in obtaining employ-ment,

(iii) assistance in obtaining work experience,

(iv) job placement schemes that facilitate persons seeking employment in obtaining employment, including the provision of—

(I) guidance, advice and information in respect of choice of career and employment, and

(II) services, whereby persons seeking employment are introduced to persons offering employment, and

(b) assist, whether financially or otherwise, in the provision of schemes and programmes referred to in paragraph (a).

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Minister may provide for any employment scheme or other scheme or programme provided, immediately before the coming into operation of section 30 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010, by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair, pursuant to paragraphs (b) to (g) of section 4(1) of the Labour Services Act 1987 including the following schemes and programme provided by An Foras Áiseanna Saothair immediately before the coming into operation of section 30 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010:

(a) the scheme known as Community Employment;

(b) the programme commonly known as the work placement programme referred to in section 142B(4);

(c) the scheme known as the Jobs Initiatives Scheme referred to in section 234.

(3) The Minister may amend or terminate, at any time, a scheme or programme referred to in subsection (2).

(4) The Minister shall not be, or be deemed to be, an employer, within the meaning of the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001 by reason only of the provision of funding by him or her to a person pursuant to a scheme or programme provided under this section.”.

(2) The Principal Act is amended in the manner specified in Schedule 1 .