Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if persons, who are over 55 years of age on community employment schemes, are permitted to participate for a five-year period; if employees who leave a social economy project cannot be replaced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20492/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS employment programmes, which comprise community employment, CE, social economy and job initiative schemes, will provide 25,000 places in 2005. CE provides work experience and training opportunities for the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups with the aim of assisting participants to progress to jobs in the open labour market.

On foot of a review of FÁS employment schemes, which included detailed consultations with the social partners, I decided that with effect from 10 November 2004 the three-year cap would be removed for CE participants aged 55 or over. This category of participants is now eligible to participate on CE for a maximum of six years. The extension of the participation period from three to six years for over-55s should ensure that there will be sufficient clients to fill the available places and will help to secure the continuity of community services generally. Employees who leave the social economy programme are being replaced.