Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Surely the Department will now be able to support people into employment using its own resources instead of outsourcing that work. Regarding CE schemes, surely it is time to change the criteria and allow participants who reach 60 or 61 years of age to continue in those schemes for the next two, three or four years, which would bring them up to the pension age if they have not been in a position to secure alternative employment. For example, the Minister is aware of Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Moate. Many of the people who have reached 60 or 61 years of age and have done their five years wish to continue on. They have no hope of securing alternative employment. A lot of work is being done, but CE schemes are part rehabilitation as well as part retraining and part activation. The Moate scheme was starved of people because they were not allowed to continue. The changes that the Minister has made will help, but people who have reached a certain age should be allowed to continue if they have not been able to secure alternative employment or activation. The Minister should make that change.

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