John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the three-year and six-year time periods for persons on the part-time integration option and the part-time job option in the community employment scheme will be extended where future participants, especially in rural area,s are difficult to obtain and therefore will impact local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33059/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are no plans to extend the participation limits beyond that currently available under Community Employment (CE), i.e. three years maximum cumulative participation for those under 55 years of age and up to six years maximum cumulative participation for those of 55 years of age up to State Pension age. Where CE projects are experiencing difficulties in recruitment due to lack of eligible candidates in a locality, the local DSP management can exercise a limited degree of participation flexibility in terms of sustaining a service until a replacement participant can be commenced.