Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the limit of those in receipt of invalidity pensions and who are on community employment schemes beyond the current seven year limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39894/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In general, the maximum participation limit for community employment (CE) is one year with the opportunity to extend for a further year if this is considered by FÁS as the most suitable and cost effective measure to assist the participant in gaining employment. A participant may be eligible for different periods of engagement and extensions on CE due to a range of circumstances, including their age, the nature of the qualifying payment and/or time already spent on CE. Persons of 55 years or over may be eligible to a maximum of six years overall participation on CE. In general, those in receipt of any of the four disability linked Social Welfare payments (Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, or Illness Benefit) may be eligible for one additional year's participation bringing the total to seven years in the case of a person aged 55 years or over, or four years otherwise. I have no plans to extend the time a person will be allowed to spend on CE.