The existing participation limits for CE are in place to ensure that all eligible persons have the opportunity to participate on the programme. The limits (introduced in April, 2000) are 3 years participation for those under 55 years of age and up to 6 years participation for those of 55 years of age to state pension age (inclusive of any time spent on CE under 55). Persons in receipt of disability-related social welfare payments on entering CE may avail of one additional year on top of these limits, bringing the duration up to 4 years or 7 years respectively.
Participation on CE prior to 3 April 2000 is not counted. Offshore island residents are exempt from this participation cap, subject to the availability of places on island-based CE schemes. The participation limits are in place to allow for a turnover of places to give the maximum number of clients the opportunity of a CE placement.
Over the least two years the number of CE places has been increased by 2,000 to 25,300. General recruitment onto CE is working well. Some recruitment issues that do arise tend to be with certain cohorts e.g. lone parents and persons with a disability which since the introduction of the cessation of receiving a dual payment in 2012 has led to a decline in participation rates.
The Department is doing its utmost to ensure that CE sponsors can recruit sufficient candidates for any vacancies arising through the local INTREO office and we will continue to monitor the situation to address any difficulties arising.
