Written answers

Thursday, 3 April 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Support Services

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will examine a situation where FÁS in the south west region are stating that the programme for long-term unemployed people who are over 55 years of age, which was introduced in November 2004 and which would allow people to stay on community employment schemes for up to six years and which was subsequently increased by a further year for those in receipt of disability payments, is over-subscribed in that age category at present and they can not facilitate applications which has been the case for quite some time; and when places in that particular category will be available again. [12543/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál 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. The programme helps unemployed people to progress to the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine and assists them in enhancing/developing both their technical and personal skills.

To cater for older workers in particular, in November 2004 I revised the 3 year CE capping 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). Subsequently, the participation limit for persons eligible for CE based on a Social Welfare disability linked payment was increased by 1 year. These measures were introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants and people with disabilities may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.

The aim of CE still remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. However, it should be remembered that, in so far as participants remain on CE, they are precluding someone else from benefiting from the programme. FÁS makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. FÁS also operates the programme flexibly as far as possible to ensure the continuation of community projects.

In conclusion then, I would say that this Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. In this regard, we are keeping the operation of the Scheme under constant review.

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