Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on any proposed changes to the community employment scheme, specifically referring to the maximum time a person may participate on such a scheme; if this criteria is likely to change in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47331/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The current rules regarding maximum durations on Community Employment (CE) are as follows:

With effect from 3^rd April 2000, lifetime cumulative participation on CE by an individual will be limited to:

- 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age.

- 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to and including 65 years of age.

- Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked Social Welfare payment will be eligible for one additional year on CE over the standard maximum participation caps, i.e. 4 years cumulative maximum time on CE for those under 55 years of age (Part-Time Job Option only), and 7 years cumulative maximum time for those between 55 and 65 (Part-Time Job Option only).

Participation on CE prior to 3^rd April 2000 is not counted. Offshore island residents are exempt from this participation cap, subject to the availability of places on island-based CE schemes.

Under the Pathways to Work (2012) policy document, it was recommended that one third of the Community Employment (CE) places be realigned towards shorter, more focused labour market interventions. The 2012 Review of Employment Support Schemes recommended that the duration of participation for new entrants should be limited to one year for participants from the unemployed and lone parent streams, to two years for those from the disability stream, and to three years for those entering based on drug dependency.

The Department is currently examining these recommendations with respect to maximum durations as part of the ongoing improvement process for the CE programme.