Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 76: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people engaged in community employment programmes on a county basis for 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of people engaged in jobs initiatives programmes on a county basis for 2008 and to date in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47244/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, 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 active workforce 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 Job Initiative Programme (JI) was launched in July 1996 and continues to provide full time employment for people who are 35 years of age or over, unemployed for 5 years or more, and in receipt of Social Welfare payments over that period.

The main purpose of the programme is to assist long-term unemployed people to prepare for work opportunities by providing participants with work experience, training and development opportunities. The programme is sponsored by voluntary organisations and public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities. Following changes introduced by Minister Micheál Martin on 10 November 2004, no new entrants have been admitted onto the Job Initiative Schemes. However, contracts for existing participants are renewed allowing them the option to continue until they are 65 years of age. Where persons do leave the Job Initiative Scheme that place can be allocated as a Community Employment place. The information requested by the Deputy will take some time to collate. I will contact the Deputy once this has been completed.