Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is introducing a new community employment health care training and development programme for community employment participants in the health sector; when this new scheme will commence; if all those participants who are currently employed on a community employment scheme within this sector will have the opportunity to apply for a place on the new scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5040/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Department will begin the process of rolling out a new Health and Social Care Programme for CE participants during the course of this year. The programme will ensure that participants have adequate access to qualifications in the health and social care sector in order to take up employment opportunities in this area and to support local service delivery. The Department has been consulting with key stakeholders and service providers in this sector in preparation for the roll-out of the programme, and this will continue. On-going support will be provided to the CE Sponsoring Organisations who manage these schemes throughout the process.

The main consideration in determining this approach is to ensure that all CE participants who are working directly with service users in the health and social care sector are adequately trained and receive the appropriate supervision that pertains to this sector.