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Community Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 July 2020

Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Ceisteanna (231)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to community employment scheme participants who may wish to continue for an extra period of time in their employment in the context of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19500/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Community Employment Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.

In general, the period of participation on Community Employment is for one year.  However, Community Employment participants who are working towards a major educational or training award or industry qualification can seek to extend participation by up to a further two years.

During the current Covid-19 emergency, my Department continued to provide the necessary funding for Community Employment schemes while also introducing a number of contingency measures.  These measures included the extension of all existing Community Employment participant contracts for the duration of the emergency.

Now that the country has begun the process of returning to normal operations and in keeping with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, the contingency measures have concluded and the recruitment of new Community Employment participants has recommenced.  

Those participants who had their contracts extended during the emergency period are now finishing up on their schemes on a phased basis over the coming period and further extensions will not be granted.  My Department's priority will be to make CE placements available to long-term jobseekers who could benefit from a placement on a CE scheme to gain valuable work experience and training.

The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. 

Places on these work programmes will continue to be available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market while sustaining the role of Community Employment as an active labour market programme.  The Deputy will appreciate that extending the duration of participation on Schemes would have a negative impact on the opportunities available to other long-term unemployed people. 

Question No. 232 answered with Question No. 37.
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