Vol. 537 No. 2
102 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the procedures which have to be completed to enable asylum seekers avail of community employment schemes; the number of asylum seekers and refugees who are currently taking part in such schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15563/01]
Refugees have the same rights to access community employment, CE as Irish citizens and the same entry criteria are applied. Records of participants are maintained by FÁS, based on their social welfare status on entry to the programme, that is, unemployed, lone parents or widowed etc. Refugees on CE are not identified as a separate group.
Asylum seekers are not eligible to participate in CE.
103 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason participants can get five years unbroken access to community employment schemes in some centres while in other centres three years is the absolute maximum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15564/01]
Participation on CE is normally for a period of one to three years depending on the person's age and unemployment status.
Persons aged 25 or over who have been one year unemployed may participate in CE for a maximum period of three years. This period cannot be continuous. Participants are required to have a break of twelve months after each year of service. To return to CE after the year break the person must have been unemployed for the period of the break. In special circumstances where a participant will benefit from two years continuously, 10% of participants in this category may do two years in succession.
Persons aged 35 or over who have been unemployed for a period of three years may participate in CE for three years continuous. The maximum period, currently, is three years for all.
Occasionally, arrangements are made in very exceptional circumstances to accommodate participants who would benefit from a further term on the programme outside the usual criteria, for example, drugs task force projects. In addition, short duration extensions may be permitted where people are awaiting commencement of a training course or a job.
104 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the important role that community employment schemes play in rural Ireland; her further views on the ongoing value to the local community and participant alike; the future she sees for the scheme, its participants and its supervisors in the immediate and longer term; and if she will make a statement on the scheme she envisages that will take over from community employment schemes in areas where their numbers have dropped due to increased participation in the workforce. [15579/01]
Community employment or CE is a work experience programme whose primary role is to assist the progression of participants into jobs and-or further education and training. The programme is designed to provide temporary rather than ongoing opportunities for persons unemployed for a minimum of 12 months. There are currently approximately 33,400 participants on the programme. CE supervisors and participants are employed by the sponsors of projects and these positions are funded by a grant from FÁS. Within the context of the overall number of places avail able on CE, FÁS has operational responsibility for the delivery of the programme.
Following the Government decision in July 1999 to restructure the programme the numbers employed on CE are reducing to 28,000 by the end of 2003. The reduction in absolute numbers participating, together with the changed eligibility criteria are considered to be appropriate given the present economic climate and buoyancy in employment projections.
Consultations with relevant Departments are currently taking place in order to progress the mainstreaming of essential services currently undertaken by participants on the CE programme. This will further reduce participation levels. The mainstreaming of these services should enhance the services being provided and provide employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed.
Discussions with the Department of Education and Science with regard to schools services are at an advanced stage and I intend to begin the mainstreaming process and to transfer CE funding freed up by the reduction in CE positions in schools to that Department in time for the new school year in September next.
My Department is finalising proposals for a new high supports process, as required under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, which will enhance the range of options available for job seekers with particular employment barriers. Further consultations with the social partners on the high supports process are due to take place shortly and I would hope that this process can be put in place at an early date.
My Department is also considering with FÁS the issue of older persons, workers in rural areas and others who have previously participated on CE, and who are having difficulty progressing to open employment. This issue will also be considered in the context of developing policy for the high supports process, and in the light of the implications of both elements for the future operation of CE following the mainstreaming of essential services.
Community groups currently availing of CE who wish to convert to social economy activity can avail of financial grants and technical supports available under this programme to employ former CE participants, among others, in social economy projects. Social economy support is available to communities that can provide for a social need and generate an income from this activity.
CE will remain a substantial programme for the foreseeable future. However, in the context of labour shortages and the dramatic reductions in the numbers of long-term unemployed I believe we must continue to gradually reduce the overall numbers participating on active labour market programmes. This can be achieved through a process of mainstreaming jobs and targeting available resources at those most in need.
