Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
573. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason community employment schemes are being closed down (details supplied); if this policy will be reversed; and if social welfare offices will be allowed to refer to persons to community employment schemes. [52002/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the 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.
I am very aware of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 public health restrictions. While referrals to active CE vacancies continued throughout the pandemic, where such referrals could be made in compliance with public health guidelines in place at that time, I am pleased that referrals of long term unemployed persons to CE schemes are now be getting back to more normal levels, across the country.
Both I and my Department are very aware of the need to continue to support CE schemes during the current recovery period. To continue to support CE schemes and ensure that important community services continued to be delivered, CE participants whose contracts were due to come to an end since October 2020 have had their contacts extended on a number of occasions. The latest extension will continue up until February 2022 and a coordinated and phased exit schedule will commence thereafter which will allow further time to fill vacancies arising. This approach, coupled with the increased rate of referrals to fill existing vacancies will mean that no CE scheme should be in danger of closing for the reasons cited by the Deputy. I should mention that time spent in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) will count towards eligibility for CE and other employment support programmes.
One of the measures included in the Pathways to Work Strategy announced by Government in July, 2021 was an increase in the capacity of the Public Employment Service in Intreo Offices and contracted services to further support jobseekers through the provision of job search advice and assistance. This increased capacity will support persons whose jobs are permanently lost due to COVID-19 as well as those unemployed pre-pandemic. These additional resources will also support the increased demand for new candidate referrals, from amongst unemployed persons, to fill existing and new CE vacancies. CE projects are encouraged to remain in close contact with the Department's Community Development Officers in order to ensure referrals are made in a timely manner to fill vacancies. Long term unemployed persons who are engaging with Intreo contracted employment services such as Jobpath also continue to be eligible for CE and can take up CE places, once they satisfy eligibility requirements.
The Deputy will also be aware that, building on the July Jobs Stimulus, and as part of the Pathways to Work Strategy, the Government is providing 3,000 additional places on Community Employment and Tús. Of these additional places, almost 1,500 have already been recently assigned to existing CE schemes. This is clear evidence of my commitment and that of the Government to the future of CE and I will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of both the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities throughout the country.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
