Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011
248 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are circumstances under which a person may have an extension granted to the duration of their participation in a community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30758/11]
View answerIn general, the maximum participation limit for community employment is one year with the opportunity to extend for a further year if this is considered by FÁS as the most suitable and cost effective measure to assist the CE participant in gaining employment. A participant may be eligible for different periods of engagement and extensions on CE due to a range of circumstances, including their age, the nature of the qualifying payment and/or time already spent on CE. Extensions of a CE placement have to be requested a minimum of eight weeks before the proposed finish date by the CE Project Supervisor. Once an extension application is received by the local FÁS office, a determination is made as to whether the placement is the most suitable and cost effective measure to assist the client in gaining employment. Participants who are deemed job-ready by the Supervisor are not extended in order to free up the place for another client. If no request for an extension is requested then the person must leave the scheme and re-qualify under the published eligibility rules for any further participation on the CE scheme. The local FÁS employment office will be able to give advice on individual circumstances and the opportunities to extend participation on CE.
As Minister for Social Protection I do not have a role in the administration of individual cases in regard to the operation of the Community Employment (CE) programme. The administration of individual cases under CE is a day-to-day matter for FÁS as part of its responsibility under the Labour Services Act, 1987, as amended by Part 3 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2010.
