Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the additional community employment scheme places announced in Budget 2013 are to be allocated to existing schemes or if they may be used to create new schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7039/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Existing CE schemes can benefit from the additional CE places announced in Budget 2013. Schemes may apply for additional places in the normal way to their local Social Welfare Office. This can be done at the project roll-over date. The rationale and target group for the additional places should be detailed in the application submitted. Projects that are in mid-term can also make a submission to the local office by completing an application for additional places with details of the added-value to jobseekers in the area and to the work of the scheme. This process has already commenced nationally.

The additional CE places can also be used to create a new scheme. All proposals for new CE schemes should be sent to the local Community Services Unit of the Department setting out their project plan. There is an opportunity here to encourage innovation, new approaches and models of delivery from organisations who are experienced in addressing the needs of long-term unemployed. Approximately 100 places will be reserved for such proposals. However, this will be reviewed on the basis of the quality of applications received.