Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022
61. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the 4 February 2022 deadline for community employment participants whose contracts are due to expire on this date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5398/22]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme providing 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.
I am aware of the challenges caused by the Covid-19 public health restrictions and the resultant impact on many CE participants and schemes. As the Deputy may be aware, Minister Humphreys and I have taken a number of measures to support CE schemes and participants during the course of the pandemic.
In particular CE participants contracts were extended on a number of occasions. These contract extensions which are in place since October 2020, supported CE schemes at various stages of the pandemic so that they could maintain important community services. These contract extensions also ensured that participants had sufficient time to fully avail of the work experience and training opportunities affected by public health restrictions.
In light of the need to reintroduce some public health restrictions during December and January, I can confirm that CE & Tús participants contracts are being extended for a further eight weeks. CE and Tús participants will not now begin to leave schemes until after after 8th April. Participants with extended contacts will leave schemes in a phased coordinated manner over the following twelve months.
In a further change intended to assist with the transition from COVID emergency supports over the next period, participants, including those with extended contracts, may not be required to leave CE, where a suitable replacement has not yet been referred to the scheme. This transitionary provision will support schemes to retain services, with the higher-than-normal turnover of participants in 2022. Any extension under this provision must be approved by officials from the Department and consideration will be given to the impact of COVID on the recruitment of participants, services provided by schemes, along with recruitment and referral efforts.
Officials from my Department will continue to work with and support all CE schemes throughout the transitionary period as the extended contracts come to an end.
My priority and the priority of the Department is to have all CE and Tús schemes back providing normal services and supports to their long-term unemployed participants while delivering valuable services to local communities. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
