Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 May 2017
135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a derogation from the requirement of a 60% progression rate for participants of community employment schemes in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25059/17]
View answerWork schemes offer opportunities for the long-term unemployed to gain valuable work experience and participate in training while they are paid an equivalent to their social welfare entitlement in addition to a top-up payment. Participants work for 19½ hours per week. Work opportunities are within communities and, in the main, support the provision of valuable community services in areas of disadvantage.
The Government strongly supports the work being done through Community Employment (CE) and the other employment programmes. I have seen first-hand myself, over recent months, the vital role such schemes are playing in local communities, including supporting social services, across the entire country.
With this in mind I plan to implement a number of changes to the terms and conditions of participation on CE. The main purpose of these changes is to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.
It is also proposed that all CE places will be categorised into one of two strands, either activation, with a target progression rate set at 50%, or social inclusion, with a target progression rate set at 20%. This categorisation will be based primarily on the work experience element of the place. In considering the outcomes achieved by a particular scheme, consideration will be given to local labour market conditions and other factors impacting on progression opportunities.
My Department keeps all aspects of its employment programmes under review to ensure the best outcomes for participants. As part of the implementation of these new measures, my Department is currently consulting with key stakeholders across the country.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
