Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
972. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of persons employed under the community employment programme who have not received any of the training her Department is obliged to provide; if their participation will be extended by one year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14330/21]
View answer1043. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on expanding the range of training available to participants in the community employment programme to enable greater chances of future employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15937/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 972 and 1043 together.
The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of long term unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities on a temporary fixed term basis. Its objective is to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce.
The challenges caused by the Covid-19 public health restrictions introduced over the course of the last year, has impacted CE schemes and the services they provide. My Department has continued to provide support to CE schemes during this period, including extending the contracts of participants whose contracts were due to come to an end during periods of Level 5 public health restrictions. Over 7,000 participants are benefiting from the most recent contract extension that applies up to the 2nd July. Contracts will only come to an end on a phased and coordinated manner after that date. These existing extensions will provide some additional opportunities for participants to undertake training, subject to public health restrictions in place over the coming months. In addition some CE participant training has continued online during Level-5 restrictions
It is not the Department's intention to issue a one year extension to all CE participants at the current time, as we need to ensure that places are available for the incoming cohort of long term unemployed. However the Department will continue to monitor the employment support schemes over the remaining period of restrictions.
Each CE participant must have an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) where training needs/options are identified. A CE participant may avail of any approved training that has been identified on their ILP. There are a range of recognised QQI Awards and qualifications available to CE participants.
A CE participant aged between 21 and 55 must be working towards a QQI Award on the NFQ Framework of Qualifications or an industry equivalent, in order to be eligible for up to 2 additional years on CE. If a CE participant is aged 55 or over, they are not required to undertake QQI-related training in order to avail of the two additional years on CE. However, those CE participants may opt to undertake available training and development and they will also be supported with any issues they have in accessing employment.
If there is particular piece of training that the Deputy is referring to that has not been made available within the wide range of training for participants, please bring it to the attention of my Department officials and it will be followed up on.
Where a CE participant finishes up on their CE scheme and has not completed the planned training outlined in their ILP, and if unfortunately they remain unemployed, they will be able to continue their development through other training supports provided by my Department such as the Training Support Grant (TSG) and the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). They should engage with their local Intreo office to explore the continuation of their training. This will be coordinated by the Department’s case officers who will engage with the former CE participant to discuss the available options. However, no CE participant contract will come to an end before the 2nd July next.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants.
I am fully committed to the future of CE and will continue to support and improve the programmes for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
