Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the cut off age for community employment schemes will be extended to sixty years in view of the ageing population here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26987/07]

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 fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market 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.

The upper age limit for CE participants is 65 years.

With effect from 10 November 2004 those aged 55 years of age and over are eligible to participate on CE for a maximum period of 6 years, based on participation since 3rd April 2000. In June 2006 the participation limit for people with a disability was increased by 1 year. These measures were introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants and participants with a disability may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.