Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people on community employment schemes; the number of whom were previously employed on community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36937/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, 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. I am advised by FÁS that the number of people employed on Community Employment schemes as at the end of September 2008 was 22,297 (20,879 participants and 1,418 supervisors).

CE participant contracts are of one year duration. However, participants may be eligible to participate up to 3 years in total on CE if they are under 55 years of age, or 6 years in total on CE if they are 55 to 65 years of age. Persons in receipt of a disability-linked Social Welfare payment can avail of one additional year on CE above these participation limits. To cater for older workers in particular, in November 2004 the 3 year CE capping 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). This was introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market. At the end of September 2008 6,496 participants were on their first one year contract on CE. 14,383 were on further contracts on CE.