Vol. 480 No. 6
113 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of community employment participants who have completed three years on the community employment programme; the number who have been given a further extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14998/97]
Community Employment (CE) is designed to provide temporary rather than ongoing opportunities for unemployed people, whereby they can update their existing skills, develop new skills and obtain a recent track record of work experience that will enhance their prospects of securing a mainstream job. Since April 1996 the programme has consisted of the following two distinct options:
Part-time Integration Option (30,000 places) aimed at long-term unemployed people with reasonable prospects of employment and whose prospects of obtaining mainstream employment would be enhanced by participation on the programme. Under this option participants are generally engaged for a 12 month period. However up to 10 per cent of participants may be reengaged for a further 12 month period with the agreement of FÁS, where such participants are key participants and no other suitable eligible person is available, or where the participant would benefit from an additional period on the programme.
Part-time Job Option (10,000 places) aimed at older long-term unemployed people with poor employment prospects, i.e. those over 35 years and more than three years unemployed. These participants have an annual contract of engagement for 12 months, but may have their contract renewed for up to three years.
Decisions regarding extensions for individual participants, including the length of time individual participants spend on the programme are matters for FÁS as part of their operational remit for the delivery of CE and not matters in which I have a direct function.
