Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 April 2017
215. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have applied for placement on a community employment scheme and have been refused a place; the number of community employment schemes that have been unable to fill all their places in County Donegal in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18625/17]
View answerThe Department does not refuse places on Community Employment schemes; the primary role of the Department in relation to the filling of vacancies is to check the person’s eligibility to participate. Once a person is deemed eligible it is the Sponsor’s responsibility to recruit the approved number of participants.
It is not possible to say the number of Community Employment schemes that have been unable to fill all of their places as, at any point in time, there will inevitably be vacancies on Community Employment schemes, these vacancies can arise for a variety of reason including:
- the natural turnover of vacancies where gaps can arise between an individual leaving a scheme and the fresh recruitment taking place,
- a participant may have left the scheme unexpectedly e.g. into employment or further education, or
- a lack of suitable and eligible candidates prepared to participate on the scheme in that location.
Where a scheme is having any difficulty in recruiting suitable candidates they should contact their local Intreo Centre who will be happy to assist with the process.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
