Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for raising this important issue concerning community employment schemes. The aim of the community employment programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities.

The programme helps to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person's chances of returning to the labour market. That is the objective. Community employment scheme sponsors advertise vacancies free-of-charge on the Department's www.jobsireland.iewebsite. Posting vacancies is a relatively simple process and a dedicated video tutorial is available on the site to assist sponsors. Anyone requiring further assistance can contact the Department's national contact centre by telephone at lo call 1890 800 024 and (01) 248 1398 or by email at jobsireland@welfare.ie. It is important that this information is available for the many people who are interested in these schemes.

Sponsors can also promote scheme vacancies within their local communities. At a local level, various methods of promoting CE scheme vacancies have been arranged between the Department and local CE scheme operators, including targeting potentially eligible jobseekers for attendance at a CE job fair, where details of CE scheme vacancies and employment opportunities are provided.

No recent changes have been made to the recruitment and applications procedures for CE schemes. Jobseekers receive information about all available employment support options, including CE, through the Intreo service. Jobseekers receive one-to-one support from a case officer and all available and suitable options are discussed. Jobseekers can view CE vacancies online at www.jobsireland.ieas well. Eligible candidates are referred to sponsors by case officers in their local Intreo centres. I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

My experience of the Intreo offices is very positive, especially in respect of the disability sector. Over 60 people are trained in our social welfare offices throughout the country and provide an important service in respect of my personal portfolio. The role of the community employment scheme is important. The idea is to train people with the objective of securing a more reasonable job.

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