Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
923. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the time on the scheme for all community employment scheme participants for a period during the current Covid-19 crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33355/20]
View answerThe Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
In general, the period of participation on CE is for one year. However, CE participants who are working towards a major award or industry qualification can seek to extend participation by up to a further two years. A significant number of CE participants each year avail of an extension in order to continue training and obtain qualifications or major awards.
During the original Covid-19 emergency earlier this year, when the most restrictive measures were in place, the Department continued to provide the necessary funding for CE schemes. Other contingency measures were also introduced, including the extension of those CE participant contracts that were due to come to an end during the lockdown period.
Following the recent move to Level-5 restrictions under the Government's Resilience and Recovery Plan , the Department has reintroduced these contingency arrangements for CE schemes and CE participants. The Department will continue to provide funding for CE schemes. Department officials have been liaising with schemes to arrange for those CE participants who were due to finish over the 6 week, Level-5 period to have their contracts extended while these restrictions are in place; unless a participant is taking up employment or reaches the State Pension age.
