The evaluation of the pilot programme to which the Deputy refers is currently being reviewed by Departmental officials. Eligibility criteria in general for the Community Employment (CE) scheme are kept under review to meet Government priorities.
The Ballymun Youth Guarantee Pilot Scheme allowed for the temporary relaxation of the age criteria for jobseekers clients, 18 years of age or older and resident in the Ballymun area, who were in receipt of a qualifying jobseekers payment for the requisite period of time (12 months). One hundred participants were admitted onto CE schemes over the course of the pilot scheme as a direct consequence of the relaxation of the eligibility criteria in the Ballymun catchment area.