Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
981. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection if access to community employment scheme work for Ukrainian refugees can be provided before they have completed 12 months on benefits. [19458/22]
View answer1030. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider expanding the community employment scheme to enable Ukrainian refugees participate by removing the 12-month criterion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20073/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 981 and 1030 together.
As the Deputies are aware, under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, all persons fleeing the war in Ukrainian have been granted the rights of EU citizens, including the right to access income supports, employment supports and the right to work in this country on the same basis as EU citizens.
Government’s first priority is to provide emergency supports to meet the immediate needs of those fleeing the invasion of Ukraine on arrival in this country. My department plays a central role in this through registration for PPS numbers and the provision of income support payments where required. Up to the week ending 22nd April, over 25,000 PPSNs have been assigned.
Government is very aware that many of those arriving here can take up employment. In this context my department is also providing assistance to Ukrainians to find employment. A dedicated section on www.jobsireland.ie, has been developed providing information on employment supports and opportunities for newly arrived Ukrainians. Ukrainians seeking employment can also use jobsireland.ie, to upload details of their skills and experience for matching with available employment opportunities or can come to a local Intreo Office to talk to an employment support officer. Employers across all sectors who wish to support Ukrainians through provision of employment opportunities, should register on www.jobsireland.ie to advertise vacancies. This will further assist Intreo employment services officers match the skills of those seeking employment with available work opportunities.
My department has recently launched a programme of employment engagement events specifically for those who have come to this country from Ukraine. This will enable Intreo and the wider Public Employment Services to provide further support and assistance to Ukrainians in finding employment. These engagements are being provided on an outreach basis in, or close to, current accommodation hubs, or by inviting the people concerned into Intreo offices to meet with employment support officers.
Employment support programmes are being provided and are available to persons coming from Ukraine on the same conditions that are currently in place.
Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide long-term unemployed people, who have been out of work for a year, an opportunity to engage in useful work experience and training opportunities within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis to improve their prospect of returning to employment. While the duration on CE can vary depending on the age and personal circumstances of individual participants, most participants stay on CE for up to three years, with the minimum commitment being one year.
We need to ensure that employment support programmes such as CE, which were designed to assist those furthest from the labour market, continue to be available for those who would most benefit most from these programmes. For CE, this continues to be those out of work for a year.
Eligibility criteria for CE, continues to be kept under active review by my department officials to ensure the best outcomes for individual participants, to support the vital community services delivered by schemes and in light of changes to the labour market.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputies.
