Community Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020

Tuesday, 3 November 2020

Ceisteanna (842)

David Cullinane

Ceist:

842. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the review into community employment schemes will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32431/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

The Community Employment (CE) programme is a community centred labour market initiative established for the purposes of social inclusion and activation, to help long-term unemployed people and other vulnerable groups to enter the workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment.

Although the Deputy has not mentioned the Interdepartmental Group (IDG) report specifically, I will respond on the basis that this is the report referred to.

In early 2019, the Government agreed to establish an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to explore how social inclusion schemes might be organised going forward.

A number of meetings of the IDG took place and a series of follow-up meetings were undertaken with the relevant Departments. There was also a stakeholder consultation process which resulted in a number of submissions that were included in the wider review.

The final IDG report is currently with my Department for consideration and will be submitted to Government in due course.