Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position of persons aged between 50 and 55 employed in community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37873/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The main purpose of the community employment programme operated by FÁS is to provide work experience and training for the long-term unemployed and disadvantaged groups and thereby enable participants to advance successfully to employment in the open labour market.

Following a review of FÁS employment schemes — community employment, job initiative and social economy programmes — on 10 November 2004, I announced that the three year cap for participants on community employment was raised to six years for those over 55 in order to ensure the maintenance of essential community services particularly in rural areas, where it had been found that difficulties existed in finding replacement participants. Persons aged between 50 and 55 years normally leave the programme after three years. However, approximately 20% of participants, including persons less than 55 years of age, may benefit from an additional year on the programme under the flexibility guidelines introduced in August 2001. The increase should help to ensure that there will be sufficient people to fill the places on offer.