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Community Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (411)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

411. 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. [33172/21]

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' contracts 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 15/10/2018 and will have completed his 3 years allowable on CE on 08/10/2021.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the person concerned received an extension to 29/10/2021. 

During his time on CE, the person concerned has received relevant work experience in the area of maintenance, caretaking and grounds work.  He has completed certification in industry related courses, i.e., Workplace Safety, Fire Safety, Manual Handling, Safepass, Abrasive Wheels and Handheld Pesticide Applications.  He is considered job ready.  In advance of leaving the project, the CE Supervisor will also help him prepare an exit plan to assist him return to the labour market.

On finishing CE, the person concerned may be referred to my Department’s JobPath service who can work with him to ensure that the benefits of the experience and training received during his time on CE are maximised.  The person concerned will receive one-to-one intensive and regular engagement with a personal adviser who can assess his skills, experience, challenges and work goals and assist him in finding full-time sustainable employment.  This process can also help identify potential employment opportunities and can offer support to overcoming any barriers to employment.

The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants.  CE 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.  

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 through the provision of services.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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