I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 52, 56, 63 and 76 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, my Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include employment schemes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús. These schemes provide part-time temporary work in local communities, as a stepping stone back to employment. The objective of these schemes is to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market.
Deputies on all sides of the House are fully aware of the positive benefits derived from these schemes. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of participants and, in addition, participants are provided with the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills, while performing valuable work in their local communities.
All participants and community groups are aware of the time limits for participation on these schemes. The participation limits aim to ensure the benefit of participation on a work scheme is available to the widest possible number of jobseekers. In addition, it is generally recognised that there is a greater likelihood of a ‘lock–in’ effect where a scheme is of a longer duration.
My Department’s Intreo offices and staff co-ordinate the recruitment process for work schemes at a local level and will be happy to assist in relation to any local recruitment issues to ensure the maximum utilisation of places. If any scheme is experiencing particular difficulties filling vacancies, they should contact their local Intreo office as soon as possible.
With the ongoing welcome reductions in the Live Register and the increasing number of job opportunities, the Deputies will appreciate that issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes all need to be considered. I plan on bringing a Memo to Government in the coming weeks about these matters. If there are changes to be made, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
