Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Community employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide opportunities for people who are unemployed to engage in useful work and training on a fixed term basis with a view to progression to the labour market in the short term. Some 1,100 organisations in the community, voluntary and not-for-profit sectors provide work and training placements for participants nationwide.

The criteria for participating on community employment are based on individual circumstances related to age, length of time unemployed or absent from the labour market and in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments. The programme also focuses on those with more limited access to jobs and training opportunities. This latter client group will include lone parents, persons with disabilities, stabilised substance abusers, ex-prisoners, travellers, long- term unemployed persons.

The number of places available was increased to 23,300 in 2010 and remains at this level of 2011. Places are allocated regionally to reflect the underlying level of unemployment. In delivering these places, FÁS will continue to operate with sponsor organisations in a flexible manner in order to maximise progression to the labour market, while at the same time facilitating support for the delivery of community services.