Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
877. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a community employment placement will be extended in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31199/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) 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.
Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Instead, the placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market.
At the onset of the Covid-19 emergency last year my Department introduced a number of contingency measures to support CE schemes including the extension of participant contracts. With the progressive re-opening of the economy and other areas of society, and in line with the Governments National Recovery Plan and the further extension of supports put in place since the start of the pandemic, it has been decided that current CE participants who have been due to exit their schemes since 30th October 2020,will have their contracts extended to November 2021 and will exit CE on a phased basis during November 2021. This extension will afford the person concerned additional time to complete training .
During his time on CE, the person concerned achieved QQI awards and the purpose of this training and support was to prepare him for full-time sustainable employment .The Department's Employment Support Service can work with the person concerned to ensure that the benefits and experience he received during his time on CE are maximised. This process will help identify potential employment opportunities and offer support to him in overcoming any barriers to employment.
