Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
566. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the duration of community employment schemes will be extended (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45028/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Employment (CE) 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.
Throughout the onset of the Covid-19 emergency in March 2020, the subsequent level-5 restrictions introduced in October, 2020 and more recently, the return to level 5 restrictions announced by Government in December, 2020, my Department has continued to provide the necessary funding for CE schemes while introducing other contingency measures, to support CE schemes and participants, including the extension of CE participant contracts.
Department officials have continued to liaise with CE sponsoring authorities throughout the three waves of the Covid-19 emergency to arrange for CE participants who were due to finish on their respective CE schemes, to have their contracts extended while the level-5 restrictions are in place, unless a CE participant is taking up employment or reaches the State Pension age.
It should be noted that where possible and in compliance with public health guidelines, a significant number of CE schemes continued to operate throughout the various levels of COVID public health restrictions. In particular, those engaged in the provision of essential services within their communities including meals on wheels and home caring services continued to provide these services.
Contingency measures introduced to support CE sponsoring authorities and CE participants will continue to be monitored.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. Places on these employment support schemes will continue to be made available to support those who are long term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, while maintaining the role of CE as an active labour market programme.
My Department is committed to supporting the CE sponsoring authorities in the valuable services that they deliver across the communities through these particularly challenging times.
