Vol. 549 No. 3
109 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the over 50s who are on community employment schemes whose term expires; and if these persons will be retained in their positions because of their age. [6772/02]
Participation in community employment is normally for a period of one to a maximum of three years as the primary objective of the programme is to progress participants to jobs in the open labour market. In August 2001 I announced new flexibility arrangements for the future operation of CE which allows FÁS discretion to extend, on a case by case basis, an individual's term on CE, having regard to that individual's personal development needs and future employment prospects. In the case of people aged over 50 years, the three year cap on participation has been removed where people in this age group, having spent three years on the programme, continue to experience difficulties in getting employment. For such participants, FÁS now has discretion to offer a further period on the programme on a case by case basis.
