Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
756. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address concerns regarding one-year-only recommendations, and their impact on community employment schemes, in view of the challenges in respect of recruiting suitable candidates in areas in which other programmes are operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38253/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment is a labour market activation measure. It is designed as a temporary, fixed-term intervention to assist long-term unemployed and other specified disadvantaged groups to re-enter the labour market. The current structure of Community Employment (CE) has had provision for 1-year CE participation pattern under the Part-time Integration Option since 1996. The Pathways to Work policy statement mentions that one third of CE places will be realigned towards shorter more focused labour market interventions. This measure is designed to improve the outcomes for those participants and to increase the throughput on the scheme so more people can benefit from a CE placement, including relevant, tailored training and work experience.
All CE participant contracts are for 1 year at a time, even under the 3-year Part-time Job Option (PTJ) where contracts are renewable annually for up to 3 years participation. If a participant is considered “job-ready” by their CE Supervisor at contract renewal time, they will not have their contract renewed for a further year. CE Sponsors are fully aware of the transient nature of participant employment within the CE programme and must plan and accommodate for this reality. All candidates put forward for CE job interview (by the Department’s Employment Services to CE Sponsors) have to be both eligible under the CE entry criteria and suitable for placement on the programme. Where a different programme more closely suits a candidate’s needs, they will be directed towards that intervention.
