Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there has there been changes in the way, or the person, who makes the decision in relation to the sanction of additional discretionary years on community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25081/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There have been no changes to the Community Employment (CE) eligibility or duration rules for many years. The last change was announced in July 2006 whereby persons in receipt of a CE-qualifying disability-related social welfare payment could remain for one additional year over and above the standard maximum CE participation limits (3 years total participation for those below 55 years of age and six years total participation for those of 55 to 65 years of age – only counting CE participation since 3rd April 2000).

There are two strands of Community Employment – Part Time Integration Option (PTI) and Part Time Job Option (PTJ). PTI Option is intended for those who have been in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for at least 12 months. This Option is limited to 1 year on CE at a time, with flexibility to renew the contract for a subsequent year in 10% of cases where it is deemed the individual would benefit from extra time on the scheme. The request to extend a participant into a subsequent year is made by their CE Supervisor and is then decided by the Department's Community Development Officer (CDO) with responsibility for the CE project, based on the case made by the Supervisor and operational factors. At the end of the second year they must exit CE for a minimum of 12 months. If they wish to return to CE they must requalify in the standard manner. The PTJ option is intended for longer-term unemployed persons and those in receipt of a qualifying payment for at least 3 years. This Option is based on annually renewable contracts for a maximum of 3 years participation. At the end of first year, the participant's Supervisor applies to extend their participation to the CDO at least 8 weeks before their proposed exit date. If the person is considered "job-ready" at this point they are not renewed into another CE year. If their continued participation would enhance their employability prospects, they can be contracted to CE for a further year. The same process is repeated at the end of the second CE year to ascertain if a third CE year is the most suitable intervention for the participant. Again, a person considered "job-ready" would not be retained in order to free up the place for another person to have the opportunity of the CE place. There is no entitlement to 3 years under this option, only the flexibility to avail of up to 3 years on CE based on the participants progression levels and assessed personal needs at the end of each year.

All CE participants are subject to the participation caps as detailed above.