Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topical issue for debate because it is extremely important. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable work of the many participants on the community employment schemes the length and breadth of the country. They are very much at the heart of our community.

It might be beneficial for the Minister of State to engage in this debate as opposed to with his colleague.

I want to put on record thanks for the invaluable work the community employment schemes do the length and breadth of the country. They are very much at the heart of the community from a social, cultural and environmental perspective. They work in child care facilities, GAA grounds and other sporting facilities. They maintain tidy towns. They support the often unrecognised work of thousands of volunteers throughout the country.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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They have huge difficulty now because the pool of available participants is being squeezed by both sides. On one side there has been an increase in employment opportunities, and that is extremely welcome, but on the other side changes were made to the eligibility criteria for the scheme in April 2017. This is placing a huge burden on participants and many of the schemes. It is putting the long-term viability of many of the schemes in doubt. Just because JobBridge has been introduced and somebody has been moved off the Live Register and onto JobBridge does not necessarily mean the person will be able to get a job. There are people on these schemes who, for whatever reason, perhaps because of their age or an ability or disability issue, cannot go back into the workforce. What we are telling them now is they are no longer any good or qualified for participation in society. I will give an example. In recent weeks, Moate amenity and heritage park has lost five participants. The local newspaper described it as a devastating blow to the park and rural Ireland. The loss of five employees at a key tourism facility in Moate is a devastating blow according to a local community activist and member of the management committee. The workers have completed their length of service with the scheme and no extension is in sight. They have no option but to vacate their positions. An emotional participant who was interviewed stated he had been there for the past four years and had loved every minute of it. He said his dignity and pride have been taken away. I will not give his name. It is not about the money, it is about feeling part of something.

I understand the group met the then Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who is now Taoiseach. He gave cast-iron guarantees that reforms were under way on eligibility for people on community employment schemes. This has simply not happened. As I said, the future viability of many of these schemes is under threat.

My colleague, Deputy Willie O'Dea, has produced a Bill that would tackle this issue. I understand the Minister of State is here representing his colleague the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty. Will he give a cast-iron guarantee the Government will take note and acknowledge that changes need to be brought about, and acknowledge the significant contribution that community employment schemes make the length and breadth of the country in urban and rural Ireland?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank Deputy Robert Troy for raising this very important issue. In the context of the economic recovery, the Department undertook a review of its work programmes in 2016. Arising from the review, the Government agreed to implement changes to the qualifying conditions for community employment in order to broaden access to a wider range of people. These new rules were implemented from July 2017. In general, all placements will now be for one year only. If community employment participants are undertaking training to achieve a major award, their time can be extended for up to two years to allow them to complete the training which will enhance their overall employment prospects. This is a positive development. This also allows for three years continuous participation in a community employment scheme.

Those over 55 years of age can also remain on a community employment scheme for three years.

5 o’clock

A six-year participation limit will apply to community employment, or seven years in the case of a person in receipt of a disability payment. A person may re-qualify for participation on a community employment scheme after 12 months, having been in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, provided he or she has not reached the six-year overall lifetime limit. Participation on a CE scheme is intended to be for a temporary fixed term. These placements are not full-time sustainable jobs. Participation limits are in place to ensure that as many unemployed people as possible can benefit from the scheme. My Department's priority in supporting work programmes is to provide access to good quality work experience and training qualifications to support the progression into employment of jobseekers and other vulnerable groups. The eligibility criterion for participation on a community employment scheme is kept under ongoing review to ensure the effectiveness of the scheme in targeting long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups.

As for Moate community employment scheme, significant extensions of time were previously granted to each of the five community employment workers who completed their participation in the programme with the sponsoring organisation, Moate Heritage Company, on Friday, 23 March 2018. A total of 29 places are approved under the sponsor's current CE contract. As of 22 March 2018, 27 people were employed on the scheme. In the last two weeks, one new participant commenced on this scheme in an administrative role and another commenced work in a general operative role. The Department's midlands community employment service, CES, team and case officers maintain a strong focus on the urgent recruitment needs of Moate Heritage Company and ensure that the promotion of the benefits of participation in the scheme is highlighted at all meetings with eligible customers of the Department. The midlands CES team is also in regular contact with the sponsoring organisation in order that issues with recruitment can be given immediate attention.

The Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, has received representations on this issue from the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, Deputies Burke and Penrose and Senator McFadden, all of whom highlighted the needs of the Moate Heritage Company. The Department's midlands CES team and case officers will continue to attend to the urgent recruitment needs of Moate Heritage Company and will maintain regular contact with this sponsor in order to provide assistance with recruitment. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it is important that such issues are raised. I hope this clarifies the matter.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I regret it does not clarify the matter. I am well aware of the eligibility criteria for participation on the community employment scheme, which the Government changed a number of years ago. This change is having a devastating impact on community employment schemes. I am surprised that schemes in the Minister of State's constituency have not contacted him about the impact this change is having on their ability to attract participants to the scheme. The fact that a person might be no longer eligible to participate in a scheme does not mean he or she will find employment outside of it. As I said in my opening remarks, there are people who, because of their age and abilities, are unable to find mainstream employment. The work provided by community employment schemes is hugely rewarding for such people.

As I said, the change to the rules is having a devastating effect on communities. If it were not for the work undertaken by community employment schemes - social, cultural and environmental - towns and villages the length and breadth of the country would not be maintained in a pristine condition and many child care facilities would not be able to operate. The change is not working but the Government does not get it. I am delighted that my colleagues are bringing this issue to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty. I am bringing it to the attention of the Government on the floor of the House again today. Not only is the Minister and the Government not acting on these representations they are refusing to acknowledge that there is a problem.

My colleague will bring forward legislation this week that will ensure that there can be changes to the eligibility criteria. I hope that it will receive cross-party support. If the Government does not support it, Fianna Fáil will force it to make the changes needed to ensure the long-term viability of critical schemes like this.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I again thank Deputy Troy for raising this important issue and will make a number of points. First, the CE scheme operated by Moate Heritage Company is not terminating. I take the Deputy's point that these schemes provide valuable work. As I said in my initial response, there are 27 people on this particular scheme and they are making a positive contribution to their area. As I said earlier, a person in receipt of a disability payment is eligible for participation on a CE scheme for seven years, which is positive. I take the Deputy's point in regard to age, particularly those aged 55 and over. While the unemployment rate has decreased to 6%, we would like it to be at 3% because at that point we could tackle a lot of these issues.

In terms of my portfolio in the area of disabilities, there are 5,000 people with a disability on the wage subsidy scheme, WSS, under which the Government and the employing company each pay half the salary of the person with the disability. There are other initiatives under way in this space. On the Deputy's point on the need for reform, I will bring his concerns to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The third matter has been deferred as the Minister is unavailable. Is the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, taking the fourth matter?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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No.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Is it agreed that the House suspend for five minutes? Agreed.