Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2021
382. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if community employment schemes will be extended further beyond July 2021; if contract extensions will be provided to persons aged over 55 that are due to finish community employment placements in July 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27683/21]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) 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.
My Department has continued to support CE since the onset of the Covid-19 emergency in March 2020, including the ongoing provision of funding and the introduction of contract extensions during level-5 periods of restrictions. CE participants, whose contracts were due to end during the latest Level-5 restrictions have had their contracts extended to the 2nd July 2021. Over 7,000 CE and Tús participants are benefitting from this latest extension which applies to all CE and Tús participants whose contracts were due to finish since end-October 2020. Department officials are continuing to monitor the situation while keeping the current extended contract end-date currently under active review.
It is important to note that when CE participants are eventually due to finish on their respective schemes, this will be undertaken on a coordinated, phased basis over a number of months. This will assist the recruitment of new CE participants and ensure service continuity for the CE schemes. It will also provide further opportunities for CE participants to complete their CE placement and finish any outstanding training.
However, where a CE participant finishes up on their CE scheme without completing the training outlined in their Individual Learning Plan and if unfortunately, they remain unemployed, they may continue their development through a range of training supports provided by my Department such as the Training Support Grant and the Back to Education Allowance. Department case officers are available to engage with former CE participants to discuss the available options.
The Department does not intend to extend participation on CE for participants over the age of 55 at this juncture, outside of the existing participation limits or any Covid related extensions. It is important to note that a number of CE participants who are aged over 55 who commenced on the scheme before 2017 can stay on CE for six consecutive years.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants, including those whose participation has been adversely affected during the pandemic and that CE schemes are supported over the forthcoming period as they re-commence more normal service levels.
I am fully committed to the future of these programmes 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 throughout the country.
