Community employment provides temporary employment for participants, which as a general rule lasts only for a period of one to three years depending on the eligibility of the participant entering the programme. FÁS has limited discretion to extend an individual's term on CE on a case by case basis, having regard to that individual's personal development needs and future employment prospects.
In accordance with the Government's decision in 1999 to restructure CE, participation levels are gradually being reduced reflecting the significant reduction in the numbers of the long-term unemployed, and the shift in emphasis away from work experience programmes to training, from which there is a greater level of progression to employment. A total of €274.738 million is being provided for CE under the 2003 Estimates, which will provide for an average participation rate of approximately 22,000 in 2003. The corresponding allocation for 2002 is €332.095 million to provide for an average participation rate of 28,000. Accordingly, the costs involved in maintaining the CE programme will be reduced by €57.357 million in 2003.
Participants exiting CE may avail of assistance from FÁS placement services and the local employment services to seek alternative employment in the open labour market, or to explore other options such as further education or training opportunities available locally. I would hope that many of the participants exiting the programme will have gained from the work experience and training received while participating on CE and will be in a position to progress directly to open labour market employment.
