John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to permitting those participants on community employment schemes who are 60 years of age and over to remain on the schemes indefinitely until retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24335/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The aim of Community Employment (CE) is to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities on a temporary basis. The Department’s priority in supporting CE is having access to schemes that can provide jobseekers and other vulnerable groups with good quality work experience and training qualifications to support their progression into employment. The proportion of participants over 60 years of age is currently 10.9% (May 2015).

Persons of 60 years of age or over can participate for a cumulative maximum of 6 years on CE, with one additional year being available for persons who were in receipt of a disability-linked social welfare payment.

Participation on CE ranges from 1 year up to 6 years for participants depending on their eligibility and 7 years for people with a disability. I believe that this is extensive for an active labour market programme. However, I am currently examining this issue.