David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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78. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances under which persons employed under the community employment schemes can have their placement extended; the number of extensions allowed in 2014, where community employment projects experienced difficulty in recruitment, due to lack of eligible candidates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19594/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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With effect from 3^rdApril 2000, lifetime participation on Community Employment (CE) by an individual is limited to:

- 3 years for persons under 55 years of age;

- 6 years for persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age;

- Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked social welfare payment are eligible for oneadditional year on CE over the standard maximum participation caps, i.e. 4 years maximum time on CE for those under 55 years of age, and 7 years maximum time for those between 55 years of age and State Pension age.

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

The above maximum durations are strictly enforced to ensure fairness to all participants and to maintain throughput of places which allows more people to benefit from participation on the scheme.

However, there is provision for extending 10% of the places where a participant is only eligible for 1 year on the scheme. This normally applies to facilitate the completion of a recognised award by a participant, to complete work experience or to support the service where there may be delays in Garda vetting of posts.

The Department does not collate statistics on extensions allowed.