Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the capping on the community employment scheme; the changes in policy he has introduced in 2007 in respect of CE schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8045/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The primary purpose of CE is to provide short-term work experience and training opportunities for long-term unemployed persons and other disadvantaged groups with a view to facilitating their progression to work in the open labour market.

As part of the restructuring of CE approved in 1999, future participation in CE by an individual was capped at 3 years, effective from April, 2000. This change was introduced to discourage repeated participation in CE and to encourage unemployed persons to avail of training/education options where possible, which are shown to have more successful progression outcomes for individuals. The three-year cap was amended in August 2001 to allow particularly disadvantaged persons to remain on the programme for a further period. In general, 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.

In November 2004, it was decided that the 3-year cap would be extended for CE participants aged over 55. This category of participants is now eligible to participate on CE for a maximum of 6 years.

In July 2006 my Department published its Sectorial Plan under the Disability Act, 2005. One of the key highlights of this Plan is to increase participation rates of people with disabilities on CE over the period of the Plan and to raise the CE participation limits for people with disabilities, in order to provide additional training to assist progression to employment:

For people with disabilities under 55 years of age, the participation limit has been raised by one year from 3 to 4 years;

For people with disabilities over 55 years of age, the participation limit has also been raised by one year from 6 to 7 years.

While I have not introduced any policy changes relating to Community Employment in 2007, I am informed by FÁS that the participation limits will continue to be operated flexibly at local level.