Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has told the Dáil that her officials were adopting a flexible approach to funding for Community Employment Schemes.
She was speaking during a debate on a Sinn Féin Private Members Motion calling for a reversal of cuts to community employment schemes announced in December's Budget.
Several Sinn Féin TDs said the cuts affected the most vulnerable in society.
The Minister said that no scheme would be forced to close as a result of the reduction in the training and materials grant provided to each participant.
Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh said it was clear that the Government had chosen to make cuts that affect the most vulnerable in society, such as the cuts to Deis schools and to frontline public services.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Government had made the decision that those who avail of CE schemes were 'soft targets'.
She said she believed the value of CE schemes as a crucial gateway to employment and as an important service provider had been missed by the Government.
