Ms Kathleen Stack:

My colleagues and I welcome the opportunity to meet committee members today to discuss the community employment programme. I am joined by Deirdre Shanley, who is the principal officer with responsibility for employment programmes and is based in Carrick-on-Shannon, as well as Jim Lynch, who is divisional manager for the mid-west division and is based in Limerick.

Community employment, or CE as it is most commonly known, is the largest of the Department's range of programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. The purpose of the programme is to break the cycle of unemployment, maintain work readiness and improve the opportunities of a participant to return to the labour market. Employment programmes such as CE also support the delivery of vital services in local communities, something that has long been acknowledged by the Department and Government.

At the end of September, a little over 21,000 participants were on the programme and there were over 1,300 supervisors. CE schemes provide part-time temporary work in local communities. The schemes include opportunities for training and development as a stepping-stone to employment for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments, including those on long-term jobseeker's payments. It is important to recognise, however, that CE placements are not full-time sustainable jobs.

CE schemes are typically sponsored by groups, known as CE sponsors, wishing to benefit the local community. These include voluntary and community organisations and, to a lesser extent, public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities. Such programmes provide a valuable service to local communities while at the same time providing training and educational opportunities for jobseekers.

As members of the committee will be aware, participants work for an average of 19.5 hours per week. The rate of payment is linked to the person's social welfare rate, with a minimum weekly rate of €215.50. Participants may receive extra allowances in respect of qualified adult and child dependants as well.

I will set out some statistics to put things into context. While there was a 40% fall in the live register in the period from 2012 to 2017, over the same period CE participation has remained relatively constant. The numbers on schemes in June 2012 were approximately the same as at the end of September 2017. It is important to note that the number of people on CE schemes fluctuates on an ongoing basis as vacancies arise and are filled on schemes. Given reducing numbers on the live register, which is the main target cohort for CE schemes, demand for places can vary as well.

As the economic recovery takes hold and the overall level of unemployment continues to fall, the Department recognises the need to adapt schemes to the changing circumstances, opportunities and needs of jobseekers and others. With this mind, the Department undertook an analysis of the CE programme, and this was completed in late 2015. Government approval was obtained to publish the review report in April 2017 and to implement the various changes recommended.

The review looked at community employment or CE, Tús, Gateway and the rural social scheme. It was agreed by the Government that the overall number of scheme places available in 2017 will be 32,000. CE will continue to be the largest programme this year, with 22,400 places available across schemes. The balance will be made up of placements in the rural social scheme and Tús.

In general, the changes agreed by the Government broaden access to CE to a wider range of people and emphasise the importance of training and upskilling of participants. In particular, members of the committee should note that: the qualifying age for CE places has been reduced from 25 to 21 years; all CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year, and participants working towards a major award can seek to extend their participation by up to a further two years; those over 55 years of age can remain on CE for three consecutive years; and it is now easier for previous participants to re-enter CE as participation prior to 2007 is disregarded, and previously the year used was 2000. In advance of the roll-out of the new measures, the Department consulted with key stakeholders across the country in May and June 2017.

With regard to CE participation for older people, the pilot initiative announced in December 2015 enables a percentage of those aged 62 years or over to participate on CE on a continuous basis up to State pension age. This initiative is currently under review and we expect it to be finalised in the coming weeks. In recent months, the Department has also begun rolling out a two-strand approach whereby CE placements are being categorised as activation or social inclusion. This recognises that unemployed people get different types of work experience on CE. Some placements are closer to the labour market in terms of the type of experience they provide, with an emphasis on certified and industry-recognised training. These places offer good progression opportunities for participants to access jobs in the open labour market. Other places are more geared towards people who are very distant from the labour market and represent a first or intermediate step back into employment. As a consequence of this work, different progression targets will be set for the different placements.

Given the reduction in the live register and other activation options available, including JobPath, Tús and CE, there are increased opportunities available for welfare recipients. The impact of an increasing number of people at work and the continued reduction in the live register are all factors in recruitment to work programmes. It is important to point out, however, that the Department continues to refer candidates to CE schemes so any sponsors who have recruitment concerns should contact their local Intreo office. If there is a lack of interest in a vacancy, schemes may be required to assess the quality of the vacancy offered.

In recent months, concerns have been expressed about the impact of JobPath on CE and how it operates. The aim of the JobPath service is to assist jobseekers in finding sustainable full-time employment. On the other hand, CE schemes, as I have outlined, provide part-time work experience and training opportunities in local communities as a stepping stone back to employment for those on long-term unemployment payments. Jobseekers who are already participating with the JobPath service will not be referred to CE schemes as they can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time. However, customers who on the date of their referral to JobPath have a written offer, with a start date within four weeks, for CE will be facilitated to take up the placement. In recent months, those jobseekers that have completed their 52 week engagement with JobPath without finding suitable and sustainable employment are being referred back to their Intreo centres for an assessment by a departmental case officer. They may then apply for other activation supports, such as CE, thus ensuring ongoing availability for CE schemes.

Over the years, CE has developed into a unique programme that integrates employment interventions and training for the individual with community service provision. It is an important resource for communities to identify their own needs and provide vital community services in both urban and rural areas. Both the Government and the Department remain committed to the programme and the work it is doing. My colleagues and I are happy to discuss any issues raised by members of the committee.