Brendan Griffin
Question:631. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54156/22]
View answerTuesday, 8 November 2022
Questions (631)
Written answers
Work Schemes such as Community Employment (CE) are positive initiatives that enable long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst upskilling themselves for prospective future employment. However, it is important to note that participation on these schemes is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market. Participation limits are set on these schemes to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons.
As a result of the COVID-19 emergency and the related public health restrictions, including the recruitment of new CE participants, the Department supported schemes throughout this period by extending participant’s contracts on a number of occasions up until April of this year. Also, to assist with the transition from COVID emergency supports over the next period, participants, including those with extended contracts, were not required to leave CE, where a suitable replacement had not yet been referred to the scheme. This transitionary provision has supported schemes to retain services with the higher-than-normal turnover of participants in 2022. Any extension under this provision must be approved in advance by officials from the Department.
The person concerned commenced CE on 30/5/2016. Following extensions due to the Covid-19 emergency, his contract was due to expire on 28/10/2022, when he will have completed 6 years and 20 weeks on CE, which is in excess of the overall lifetime limit of 6 years. As there have been 3 new referrals to his position, from the current cohort of long term unemployed his contract cannot be extended further - without impacting on an opportunity for new entrants to join CE. The Department's activation service will work with the person to ensure that the benefits and experience he received during his time on CE are maximised. This process will help identify employment opportunities in the open labour market and offer support to him in overcoming any barriers to employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.