Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
195. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reducing the amount of time that a person must be on the live register in order to qualify for a community employment scheme given the shortage of community employment applicants in areas including Dublin, and the influx of Ukrainians who may want to avail of this scheme as in the case of a centre (details supplied). [23762/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide long-term unemployed people, who have been out of work for a year, with an opportunity to engage in useful work experience and training opportunities within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis to improve their prospect of returning to employment. While the duration on CE can vary depending on the age and personal circumstances of individual participants, most participants stay on CE for up to three years, with the minimum commitment being one year.
We need to ensure that employment support programmes, such as CE, which were designed to assist those furthest from the labour market, continue to be available for those who would most benefit most from these programmes. For CE, this continues to be those out of work for a year.
Employment support programmes are being provided and are available to persons coming from Ukraine on the same conditions that are currently in place for all customers.
Government is very aware that many of those arriving here from Ukraine can take up employment. In this context my Department is also providing assistance to Ukrainians to find employment. A dedicated section on www.jobsireland.ie, has been developed providing information on employment supports and opportunities for newly arrived Ukrainians. Ukrainians seeking employment can also use jobsireland.ie, to upload details of their skills and experience for matching with available employment opportunities or can come to a local Intreo Office to talk to an employment support officer. Employers across all sectors who wish to support Ukrainians through provision of employment opportunities, should register on www.jobsireland.ie to advertise vacancies. This will further assist Intreo employment services officers match the skills of those seeking employment with available work opportunities.
My Department has recently launched a programme of employment engagement events specifically for those who have come to this country from Ukraine. This will enable Intreo and the wider Public Employment Services to provide further support and assistance to Ukrainians in finding employment. These engagements are being provided on an outreach basis in, or close to, current accommodation hubs, or by inviting the people concerned into Intreo offices to meet with employment support officers.
My Department continues to work with CE sponsor groups to nominate candidates to fill vacancies as they arise. Changes made to CE eligibility criteria by Minister Humphreys and myself in December 2021, including the possibility of having a participant's contract extended where it is not possible to find a replacement, should also help in this regard.
Eligibility criteria for CE continues to be kept under active review by my Department officials to ensure the best outcomes for individual long term unemployed participants, to support the vital community services delivered by schemes and in light of changes to the labour market.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
