Written Answers. - Community Employment Scheme.
John Perry
Ceist:
136
Mr. Perry
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of a group (details supplied) following the recent changes in eligibility criteria for participation in community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[22270/00]
The primary purpose of community employment is to reintegrate long-term unemployed persons into jobs in the open labour market. The review of CE by Deloitte & Touche, consultants, undertaken in 1998, set a framework for a reform of the programme for the years ahead. It recommended that there should be a reduction in participation in the programme over time, as well as a range of other reforms aimed at securing better targeting and outcomes from the programme.
Following the restructuring of CE approved by Government in 1999, the following revised eligibility criteria apply to persons who wish to participate in the options available under the programme: (a) part-time integration option is aimed at persons who are unemployed and in receipt of a payment in respect of unemployment assist ance, unemployment benefit, qualified adults, one parent family payment or widow's-widower's pension for a minimum period of 12 months. Persons in receipt of a disability payment who obtain approval from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature can also participate in the programme.
The eligibility age for participation in this CE option was raised from 21 years to 25 years on 1 January 2000 with the following exceptions: travellers; ex-offenders; refugees; people with disabilities; people referred under drugs task force; offshore island inhabitants; 18-24 year olds, referred through EAP, who are 18 months or more unemployed.
Participants remain on this programme for a period of one year. A limited number of people can remain for a second year in circumstances where it will facilitate their progression to employment. (b) part-time job option or rate for the job is targeted at persons who need a longer programme in order to become job ready. Participants must be 35 or over and three years unemployed and in receipt of the payments stated previously. Participants can remain on this option for a period up to three years.
Other changes to the programme forming part of the restructuring process, which were introduced in April 2000, include: the duration of participant breaks between schemes increased from six to 12 months, andfuture participation in CE by an individual will be capped at three years. An individual's previous participation in the programme will not be taken into account.
Offshore island residents are exempt from these changes.
These changes were introduced to discourage repeated participation in CE and to give individuals the opportunity to undertake training programmes where possible, or to utilise the service of FÁS placement officers and-or the local employment service.
It should be noted, however, that the three year cap will not affect an individual's participation in the programme until 2003 at the earliest and I intend to monitor the programme carefully in the interim.
