Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
229. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider a change to local community employment schemes to permit persons to continue participating in the schemes beyond 60 years of age, until they reach retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37976/15]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other vulnerable persons (including lone parents, recovering drug misusers and persons with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in part-time work and training within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis.
With respect to the participants exhausting their time on the programme, all community Employment (CE) sponsors and participants are aware of the time limits for participation, which are extensive for certain individuals particularly those over 55 years, who can already participate for up to six years on CE. The participation limits allow for the utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons, to ensure the benefit of the CE scheme to the widest possible number of jobseekers. The Department is however examining this issue and will keep it under review.
