Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the cap on length of service for community employment workers aged 55 or over will be removed due to the particular difficulties faced by persons over that age in finding other employment due to a number of factors including standards of educational achievement. [18701/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills.

In November, 2004 the 3 year CE cap was revised to allow those of 55 years of age and over to avail of a 6 year period on CE (based on participation since 3rd April, 2000). FÁS Employment Services and the Local Employment Service support all unemployed people to progress to training or employment, including those over 55 years of age.