Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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319. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be allowed to undertake a third year of community employment in view of the specific personal circumstances they encountered during their second year and her stated commitment to support person's transition into full-time employment. [42074/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community employment (CE) programme is a labour market intervention designed to assist the long-term unemployed return to the work force. The term for participants on CE has been set at two years maximum for those under 35 years of age by the Department. The person concerned has completed two years on Merchant’s Quay CE scheme as a support worker. As she is under 35 years of age, she has reached the maximum duration of entitlement; unfortunately it is not possible in the current climate to grant her a further extension.

It should be noted that the training on CE is carried out on an independent and external basis to CE work experience; therefore her continuance on training is not dependent on her CE continuance. As CE participants are encouraged to engage in further training and education to enhance their progression opportunities, it is common practice that participants may wish to engage in additional further training or may be mid-way through external training programmes on their CE finish date. It is expected that they would be committed to continue with their training when their CE experience finishes as part of their commitment to their overall progression. The term on CE cannot be determined by the training plan of an individual.

During her term on CE the person concerned has completed the Certificate in Addiction studies with NUI and MQI in Sept 2013, and she has also completed some general training through the scheme. However, there is no record of her undertaking or planning to undertake a diploma in drug counselling and intervention studies through the CE scheme or as part of her progression plan. Should the person concerned wish to engage in additional training opportunities and require guidance, she should meet with an Employment Services Officer, at the Intreo Office in Blanchardstown, who can explore other training options with her.