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Community Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (410)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

410. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a request to retain a person (details supplied) on a community employment scheme will be facilitated with particular reference to the fact that both employee and employer wish to maintain the status quo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33167/21]

View answer

Written answers

Community 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.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department has supported CE schemes since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.  CE participants, whose contracts were due to end during the periods of restrictions, have had their contracts extended for the duration of those restrictions.

With the successful continuing roll-out of the vaccine programme and in accordance with the phased re-opening of the economy by Government, my priority and the priority of the Department is to get all CE schemes back up and running so that they can fully re-commence activities, providing work experience and training opportunities to long-term unemployment participants and delivering vital services to local communities.

Together with my colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys, I recently announced that funding for the current CE and Tús participants' contract will be further extended until 29/10/2021.  This will bring to over 11,000 the number of CE and Tús participants benefitting from various contract extensions going back to October 2020. The conclusion of CE and Tús participant contracts after the 29/10/2021 will be undertaken on a coordinated and phased basis over a number of months.

The person concerned commenced on the North Kildare Leisure Club CE scheme on 30/04/2018 and completed his 3 years allowable on CE on 23/04/2021.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the person concerned received an extension to 02/07/2021 which has now been further extended to at least 29/10/2021.

CE participants aged 62 years and over who meet the eligibility requirements may apply for further participation under the Service Support Stream (SSS).  Participation is subject to the availability of SSS places, satisfactory performance on the CE scheme and annual approval by my Department.  The person concerned will be eligible to apply for a place under the SSS option from 01/11/2021.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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