Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by community groups arising from the termination of participation of many community employment trainees; if he will review the criteria for those people who have recently been removed from those schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28426/07]

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 (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a 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 and develop both their technical and personal skills.

In April 2000 participation on CE by an individual was capped at 3 years. The 3 year-cap was amended in August 2001 to allow particularly disadvantaged persons to remain on the programme for a further period. These participation limits were introduced to facilitate the movement of participants through the programme, allowing new participants who may not otherwise have such an opportunity to avail of the programme.

However, to cater for older workers in particular, in November 2004 I revised the 3 year CE participation limit to allow those of 55 years of age and over to avail of a 6-year period on CE. Subsequently, the participation limit for persons eligible for CE based on a Social Welfare disability linked payment (including those under 55 years) 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.

In the majority of cases where an individual exits the programme they are replaced by another eligible participant within the overall approved level. This supports the continued delivery of service provision by sponsor groups. As regards difficulties faced by Community groups, I am informed by FÁS that participation limits will continue to be operated flexibly at local level.

CE remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration given to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. The overall operation of the scheme is therefore kept under constant review.

For those exiting CE and those not meeting the standard eligibility criteria for the programme, FÁS/Local Employment Service Offices provide information on other available employment and training opportunities.

In addition to FÁS employment programmes, a range of initiatives are in place to assist the reintegration of long-term unemployed persons and disadvantaged groups into the open labour market. These include:

the National Employment Action Plan preventative process which entails the systematic engagement and referral by the Department of Social and Family Affairs of persons six months on the Live Register, to FÁS , for interview. In the period 1st January-31st October 2007 39,913 clients have been referred under this process.

The Customised Training Fund and the High Support Process (HSP), have been integrated and renamed the Technical Employment Support Grant (TESG). It allows employment services officers to implement a range of responses for clients who are experiencing major barriers in progressing from unemployment to the workforce. A budget of up to €2,500 per person is available for this purpose.

the Pathways programme is a two-week group guidance programme for disadvantaged FÁS clients identified under the preventative process. The aim of the programme is to identify the most appropriate development pathway for each participant that will assist him or her to obtain and maintain employment. In 2006, 168 clients attended 14 pathways programmes nationally.