Skip to main content
Normal View

Thursday, 3 Dec 2020

Written Answers Nos. 21-42

Parental Leave

Questions (21)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

21. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement she has had with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress the legislation for parental leave; the progress being made to have a form of application available to persons looking to apply for these additional three weeks benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40058/20]

View answer

Written answers

Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021 and agreed by all Government Ministers. This measure will cost an estimated €28.6 million in 2021 and will support up to 39,000 parents. This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted since 1st November 2019 and the period during which this leave can be taken extended from 12 to 24 months. Officials from my Department continue to work closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regards to the implementation of this extension and the draft Heads are at an advanced stage and are expected to be brought to Government shortly. The extra weeks leave will be made available as soon as the necessary legislation which is being drafted by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is enacted. It will also be necessary for parallel amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) to provide for the extended payment of benefit. In addition, significant changes are required to the Department's systems to administer this extension, including the provision of retrospective entitlement. This work needs to be undertaken so that is does not compromise existing supports in an environment where there are unprecedented levels of demand on the Department’s services due to Covid-19. Once the new application and payment system goes live in April, my Department will process and issue benefit payments to include backdated payment of benefit as appropriate in respect of Parents Leave taken from the date of enactment. The application form will be made available to coincide with the introduction of the system amendments. I can assure the Deputy that everything is being done to expedite this process.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (22)

Seán Crowe

Question:

22. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection the guidelines that Intreo offices have been issued in relation to the sanitisation of electronic signing equipment used by the public; and the number of persons currently required to sign on for any social protection service or payment. [39924/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has continued to provide services to our customers, including the new pandemic unemployment payment, throughout the pandemic. We have, at all times, followed public health advice and the Return to Work Safely Protocol. While we have kept our Intreo centres open we have implemented restricted opening hours strict sanitation protocols and encouraged our clients, as far as possible to use our online services. Electronic signing equipment is currently only in use during the process of allocating a PPSN to a customer or when a customer is applying for a PSC card. In both of these situations the guidance which has been issued is to ensure that customers sanitise their hands on entering the public office and to sanitise their hands again at the counter immediately before signing the electronic pad. Sanitiser dispensing units are available at the entrance and at the counter. Customers are encouraged to wear face coverings and these are provided to customers who do not have them. We have also contracted for additional cleaning services and cleaners in all our public offices have been instructed to clean the public areas regularly during opening hours and this includes attending to the electronic signing equipment. Signing for Social Protection payments was suspended on March 12th until further notice and this is still the case. Weekly casual dockets are still required although customers now have the option to register to certify their unemployment via MyWelfare.ie or use a drop box.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (23)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

23. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of self-employed persons who have benefited from the enterprise support grant to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39719/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) is available to eligible self-employed recipients who close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment, or PUP, and who are re-starting their business. A once-off grant of up to €1,000 is available under this measure to assist with costs associated with re-starting their business. Costs could include safety measures including the purchase of equipment including signage and personal protective equipment or vehicle running costs. This grant is available to self-employed individuals who satisfy the scheme conditions including, employing fewer than 10 people, having an annual turnover of less than €1 million and not being liable for commercial rates. This grant is available for micro enterprises that are not eligible for other similar COVID business re-start grants from other Government Departments. Approximately 7,400 applications have been approved since the introduction of this grant, with funding of approximately €7 million already paid. A budget of €12 million is provided for the grant in 2020, with an additional €12m available for 2021. The extension of the grant to 2021 ensures support will remain available to qualified self-employed individuals who close their PUP into the new year. Detailed information about this grant including the applicant form is available on the Gov.ie website. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pensions Reform

Questions (24)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

24. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of legislation to stop the increase in the pension age. [39992/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” sets out how the planned increase in the State pension age next year will be deferred and it will remain at 66 years pending the report of the Commission on Pensions. The Government confirmed as part of its Budget 2021 measures that the required amendment to primary legislation (the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005) will be brought before the Oireachtas later this year as part of the Social Welfare Bill 2020 for enactment in advance of the 1st January 2021. This Bill was published on 24th November 2020. The Government has set aside a provision of €221 million in 2021 to support this measure. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (25)

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

25. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments issued under the pandemic unemployment payment to date; the value of these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39979/20]

View answer

Written answers

The total number of payments issued under the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme up to week ending Friday, 27th November 2020 is over 13,158,000 at a total value of €4.3 billion. 352,000 payments were issued to the value of €104 million in the week ending Friday, 27th November 2020.

Poverty Data

Questions (26)

Patrick Costello

Question:

26. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which it is envisaged the poverty targets in the social inclusion roadmap will be achieved. [39664/20]

View answer

Written answers

Building on the work of its predecessors, the Roadmap for Social Inclusion aims to reduce the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland to 2% or less and to position Ireland within the top five countries in the EU across a number of key aspects of social inclusion. While this is ambitious, my Department and the Government are committed to its achievement over the lifetime of this strategy and this is reflected in the Programme for Government, which commits to its rigorous implementation. The most recent poverty data from the 2019 Survey on Income and Living Conditions in Ireland, published by the CSO recently, showed a national consistent poverty rate of 5.5%. The data also showed that incomes in 2019 had increased overall and as a result the percentage of people at risk of poverty (with an income below 60% of the median) had decreased to 12.8% (from 14% in 2018), reflecting the more optimistic economic environment of only a year ago. Social transfers continue to have a significant impact on income poverty in Ireland, with a poverty reduction effect of 58% in 2019. However the data showed an increase in the deprivation rate to 17.8%, from 15.1% in 2018, which is a concern. The Roadmap recognises that achieving the poverty targets requires a combination of approaches including the provision of income supports, employment supports (including access to employment, education and training opportunities) and access to services (such as healthcare, childcare etc). It also requires a collaborative approach and engagement across government. In practical terms there are 66 unique commitments across 13 Government Departments that must be implemented in a collaborative manner if we are to make progress towards achieving this ambitious objective. Progress on the implementation of the Roadmap commitments will be monitored by the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group, of which I am the Chair. The Group is comprised of senior representatives of responsible departments at Assistant Secretary and Principal Officer Level to ensure that implementation of the Roadmap remains a priority for each department. The groups also includes three external members from the Community and Voluntary sector, who will add significant value and bring important insight to the work of this Group. The first meeting of Steering Group took place on 11 November 2020 and I intend for this Steering Group to meet at least twice in 2021. The Department of Social Protection will also produce an annual report on progress against each commitment, which will be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality for consideration and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for discussion. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pensions Reform

Questions (27)

Michael Ring

Question:

27. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to ensure that persons who have worked all their lives and who are required by their employer to retire at 65 years of age do not have to sign on before reaching pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29607/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Government approved the establishment of the Commission on Pensions earlier this month, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission will examine sustainability and eligibility issues in respect of State pension arrangements and will outline options for the Government to address issues such as qualifying age, contribution rates, total contributions and eligibility requirements. The Commission’s Terms of Reference includes examining how private sector employment contracts specifying retirement ages below the State pension age may be impacting on the State’s finances and pension system. In line with the Programme for Government, the Commission will report to Government on its work, findings, options and recommendations by 30th June 2021. The Government intends to take action having regard to the recommendations of the Commission within six months.

In addition to repealing the increase in the pension age in the forthcoming Social Welfare Bill 2020, I will also shortly be introducing regulations which will formally remove the current requirements for people aged 65 and over to sign-on, participate in activation programmes or give an undertaking that they are genuinely seeking work. This will formalise an administrative practice which has already been in place for some time. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Student Grant Scheme

Questions (28)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

28. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has met with the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on the status of Covid-19 payments and the way in which they will impact SUSI applicants. [39990/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is responsible for the policy around the conditionality of the SUSI grant. The decision on eligibility for a grant is a matter for SUSI to determine, based on a student’s income from all sources. My Department has ongoing engagement with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on a range of issues regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

JobPath Programme

Questions (29)

Brian Stanley

Question:

29. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the future of the JobPath programme. [30676/20]

View answer

Written answers

On the 22 October I announced the extension of referrals to the JobPath service for a further twelve months until the end of 2021. This was announced in conjunction with similar commitments to ensure contracts for the Local Employment Services, Job Clubs and EmployAbility would also be extended into 2021. I also announced that my Department was expanding its own capacity with the allocation of an additional 300 staff to support the Public Employment Service, and of these 100 are to be assigned as job coaches. These measures were taken in order to expand the capacity of my Department's Public Employment Service to ensure that we are in a position to support all those who have lost their employment arising from the economic impact of the pandemic. In light of these circumstances it was therefore absolutely necessary for my Department to retain the existing contracted public employment service capacity. It was originally envisaged that new services would be procured from 2021. However, this has been delayed due to the impact of Covid-19. Given the volume of people impacted by the pandemic, a premium was put on having stable, well-established employment services in place in 2021, when a significant number of individuals are expected to need the support and advice of the public employment service. My Department is continuing to examine procurement options for all contracted public employment services and commissioned an external review of the Department's Public Employment Service to assist in this process. This review has been referred to the Labour Market Advisory Council for their consideration. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (30)

David Stanton

Question:

30. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the number of places on community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40148/20]

View answer

Written answers

Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for employment opportunities that will become available. The CE scheme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment. As the Deputy may be aware as part of the July Jobs Stimulus, the Government announced 3,000 additional places on State Employment Schemes, including CE and Tús. These additional places which will come on stream over the coming months will provide valuable opportunities for long term unemployed persons and in supporting CE schemes in providing services to local communities. While referrals to CE schemes can continue through the current Level 5 restrictions, the number of CE referrals from Intreo Offices may be impacted by the need to deploy Intreo staff to other frontline duties. During this period, CE sponsoring authorities are also being encouraged to continue to promote awareness of the benefits. Once the Level 5 restrictions begin to be lifted there will be a renewed focus on identifying candidates to fill any existing CE vacancies along with the additional places provided for under the July Jobs Stimulus. I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.

Child Poverty

Questions (31)

Gary Gannon

Question:

31. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on child poverty measures in Budget 2021 to increase social welfare payments by €2 per child under 12 and €5 per child over 12. [31364/20]

View answer

Written answers

Addressing child poverty requires a whole of Government approach as recognised in "Better Options - Brighter Futures" and in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and income support for families is one key element of this. Increases for a Qualified Child (IQCs) are paid as supplements to most weekly social welfare payments in recognition of the need for greater income support among benefit-dependent households with children. As at October 2020 there are an estimated 337,699 children supported by an increase for a qualified child. In Budget 2021, I provided for the full rate of IQC to increase by €5 to €45 per week in respect of each child over 12 years, and by €2 to €38 per week in respect of each child under 12 years. The increases are structured in this way in recognition of the higher costs associated with older children. An ESRI paper produced in advance of the Budget which focused on child poverty and the pandemic concluded that children now falling below the income poverty line tend to live in households that experienced large income losses because of employment losses. It further surmised that policies which increase the child-dependent components of social welfare schemes such as increases to qualified child rates would help to combat these losses. As the measure targets those on the lowest incomes, it will assist those families most in need, such as lone parent families who have relatively high rates of poverty. I believe that this measure will have a direct and positive impact on the alleviation of child poverty.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (32)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

32. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. [40081/20]

View answer

Written answers

In the week ending 28th November 2020, some 352,078 people received a Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The headline numbers, along with other breakdowns such as county or sector, are published each week by my Department at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/f4c60c-covid-19-statistics/.

Social Welfare Inspections

Questions (33)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

33. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of inspections carried out by inspectors by county since the start of public health restrictions. [39989/20]

View answer

Written answers

My Department’s inspectorate are divided among eight divisions across the country. Inspectors can and do work across county boundaries and as such the number of investigations/review/ inspections carried out by county since the start of public health restrictions is not available in my Department. My Department has recorded the number of inspections cleared by Social Welfare Inspectors and the Special Investigation Unit for the period in question since March 2020 to date which is broken down on a Divisional basis in the table below. The table includes the counties in each Division and the figures provided relate to all reviews, inspection and investigations including new claims, customer requested reviews, PRSI inspections, estates and control reviews. The great majority of inspections involve desk assessments and office based interviews. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Cleared During Period 12 March to 26 November 2020

Division

Counties covered

5,035

Cork Division

Cork

13,804

Dublin Sth/Mid Leinster

Dublin; Kildare; Wicklow

5,776

Midlands

Laois; Longford; Offaly; Westmeath

7,949

Mid West

Clare; Kerry; Limerick; Tipperary

7,384

North East

Cavan; Louth; Meath; Monaghan

3,847

North West

Donegal; Leitrim; Sligo

8,664

South East

Carlow; Kilkenny; Tipperary; Waterford; Wexford

6,485

Western

Galway; Mayo; Roscommon

32,112

SIU

Nationally

91,056

Total

Question No. 34 answered orally.

Domestic Violence Policy

Questions (35)

Paul Murphy

Question:

35. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce paid leave from employment for those experiencing domestic violence. [40023/20]

View answer

Written answers

The programme for government includes a commitment to investigate provision of paid leave and social protection to victims of domestic violence. The provision of statutory leave is not a matter for my Department. Family leave, force majeure leave and other similar provisions under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 fall under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I note that the Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020 relating to this matter is currently before the Dáil at second stage. I trust that this clarifies the position for the deputy.

Partial Capacity Benefit Scheme

Questions (36)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

36. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider including the PCP in the WSS scheme administered by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40142/20]

View answer

Written answers

Through the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Government recognises the importance for people with disabilities of participation in employment. As part of the Strategy, my Department is committed to improving employment outcomes and removing barriers to employment for persons with disabilities. The supports provided by the Department of Social Protection have been designed to enable people with a disability to achieve their employment ambitions by focusing on the individual’s ability and capacity. While both the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) and Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) seek to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities, they operate in different ways and with different qualifying conditions. In particular, the Wage Subsidy Scheme is a support to employers while Partial Capacity Benefit is a support provided to individuals on Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension to assist them in returning to work. For a private sector employer to qualify for a WSS subsidy for an employment position, the employee must not be in receipt of Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension or Partial Capacity Benefit. This is to avoid a situation whereby a dual subsidy being paid in respect of a single employment position. Allowing the direction of two support payments to a single employment position would have significant cost benefit implications. The WSS is an incentive to encourage private sector employers to offer substantial and sustainable employment to people with disabilities by providing financial incentives to employers who offer employment of at least 21 and up to 39 subsidised hours per week. It is not designed as a subsidy for part-time work of less than 21 hours. The Department offers alternative supports to people with disabilities who may not be in a position to, or may not wish to, work full-time. The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme is available for people who have an underlying entitlement to, and have been in receipt of, Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit for at least six months. To provide clarity to the existing practice, the WSS guidelines were amended in April 2019 to explicitly state that Partial Capacity Benefit, together with Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, is included on the list of schemes which an employee must not be in receipt of if the employer is to receive a WSS subsidy. The position regarding both WSS and PCB payments not being made in respect of the same employment has not changed. There is no restriction on earnings or the number of hours a person can work on Partial Capacity Benefit. I will continue to keep the Department’s employment support schemes for people with disabilities, including the Wage Subsidy Scheme, under review to ensure that they continue to meet their policy objectives. However, any potential changes to these schemes can only be considered as part of the wider budgetary context.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (37, 38, 58)

Michael Ring

Question:

37. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the new €1,000 enterprise support grant for the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29608/20]

View answer

Neale Richmond

Question:

38. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of self-employed persons who have benefited from the enterprise support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39965/20]

View answer

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

58. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if the enterprise support grant will be amended to enable self-employed persons who have signed back onto the pandemic unemployment payment and are still working on a reduced scale to qualify for the grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39902/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 38 and 58 together.

The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) is available to eligible self-employed recipients who close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and re-start their business. A once-off grant of up to €1,000 is available under this measure. Any self-employed individual who is in receipt of the PUP and engaging in reduced levels of self-employment such that they are availing of the €480 earnings threshold should keep a record of the costs associated with reopening their business and include these in their ESG application upon closing their PUP at a future point. The grant will remain open in 2021 to ensure that the support remains available to these individuals. Approximately 7,400 ESG applications have been approved since the introduction of this grant, with funding of approximately €7m already paid. A budget of €12m is provided for the grant in 2020, with an additional €12m available for 2021. The extension of the grant to 2021 ensures support will remain available to qualified self-employed individuals who close their PUP as restrictions are eased. Detailed information about this grant including qualifying conditions is available at www.gov.ie/dsp. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Questions (39, 42, 78)

Gary Gannon

Question:

39. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of pandemic unemployment payment recipients who are due arrears; and the date when payment on these arrears can be expected. [40158/20]

View answer

Matt Carthy

Question:

42. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of pandemic unemployment payment recipients who are awaiting payments for arrears due; and when the arrears will be paid. [39984/20]

View answer

Thomas Gould

Question:

78. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a continued backlog in back payments of the pandemic unemployment payment. [39726/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 42 and 78 together.

Since the introduction of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme in March, approximately 815,000 people have applied for payment and in some cases, they have done so on a number of occasions as they moved in and out of employment or where their employer availed of the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. Consequently, there were over 1.4 million applications to be examined to determine if arrears are due. To date, over 13 million individual payments have issued over a 36 week period. I am pleased to advise the Deputies that over €129 million in arrears was paid out to 286,000 people on Tuesday 1st December. I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputies.

Living Alone Allowance

Questions (40)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

40. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection when the increase to the living alone allowance as announced in budget 2021 will take effect; the number of persons in County Wexford who will benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40002/20]

View answer

Written answers

The Living Alone Allowance is a payment for people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone. It is also paid to people aged under 66 who live alone and are in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Incapacity Supplement or Blind Pension. This Living Alone Allowance is not means tested and the payment is made as an increase to the recipient’s primary social welfare payment. Budget 2021 provides for a €5 increase to the Living Alone Allowance from €14 to €19 per week giving a total payment of €988 over the course of the year in addition to the recipient's primary social welfare payment. This represents a 36% increase in the value of the Allowance. The overall cost of the increase in 2021 is estimated at €57.5m. The implementation of the increase is scheduled with effect from the week commencing 4th January 2021. It is estimated that there will be 221,700 recipients of this payment in 2021. The increase will require amendment to primary legislation (Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005). The necessary legislative amendment is included in the Bill to implement social welfare provisions of Budget 2021. The current number of recipients of the Living Alone Allowance in Wexford is 7,723. The number of recipients who will benefit during 2021 would therefore be estimated to be similar. It should be noted that estimates are subject to change in the context of emerging trends. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Community Employment Schemes

Questions (41)

Pa Daly

Question:

41. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if approval will be given to extend the duration of the community employment scheme without requiring additional qualifying criteria such as major awards or requalifying criteria until the end of 2022 in recognition of the challenges presented to many on these schemes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40150/20]

View answer

Written answers

The 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. The training attached to CE is recognised as a progression route for CE participants bringing them closer to the labour market. The Department has no current plan to remove the training requirement as part of the qualifying criteria for CE or to remove any existing criterion. During the first phase of the 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 Government's introduction of Level-5 restrictions in October, the Department reintroduced these contingency arrangements and continued to provide funding for CE schemes. Department officials have been liaising with CE schemes to arrange for those participants who were due to finish during the period Level-5 restrictions are in place, to have their contracts extended until restrictions ease, unless a participant is taking up employment or reaches the State Pension age. The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. Places on these work programmes will continue to be made available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, while maintaining the role of CE as an active labour market programme. There are no plans to amend the qualification criteria or rules of the CE Scheme at the present time. I am fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve CE for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities. The additional 3,000 places provided for under the July Jobs Stimulus for employment support schemes including CE will also provide opportunities for existing CE schemes to expand participant numbers and to strengthen the supports they provide to local communities while expanding developmental opportunities for the long term unemployed. I hope that theses additional places will also assist schemes to deal with the challenges arising from COVID and the resultant public health restrictions.

Question No. 42 answered with Question No. 39.
Top
Share