Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will meet with organisations from the Dublin 15 area taking part in community employment schemes to discuss the ending of community employment for those in the schemes beyond two years. [29361/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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48. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the social impact on 15 participants in an area (details supplied) in Dublin 15 of not renewing their participation in a community employment scheme. [29362/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.

There are main two streams of participation on Community Employment (CE). These streams and the limitations on participation have been a feature of CE procedures from as far back as the 1990s.

The first stream is called the Part-Time Job option and is for persons who are over 35 years of age and have spent 3 continuous years on the Live Register. Persons who participate on CE under this option can qualify for up to 3 years (which can increase to 6 years after the reaching the age of 55), subject to their extended participation being approved annually.

The second stream is called the Part-Time Integration option and is for persons over the age of 25 who have spent less than 3 years on the Live Register. This option now accounts for most of the participants on CE. Participants can qualify for up to 2 years; however their extended participation to a second year is subject to certain criteria as set out in the scheme guidelines. Participants who are granted a second year under this option cannot continue on that or any other scheme after the 2 year term has been reached. They are required to have spent a further period of 12 months on the Live Register before being eligible to participate on CE again.

There are currently 18 CE participants engaged by the project referred to in the Deputy’s question, 4 of whom qualified to participate under the Part-Time Job option; the remaining 14 participants qualified to participate under the Part-Time Integration option. Of those 14 participants, 4 have exceeded their maximum permitted time of 2 years on CE under the Part-Time Integration option. However 3 of them are exempt from the 2 year limit by virtue of the fact that they commenced CE prior to the announcement on 8th October 2012 regarding the Part-Time Integration option. The fourth participant, despite will in this instance be allowed to see out their current term on CE.

The Department has reviewed the eligibility of each participant and found that 1 participant was incorrectly categorised under the Part-Time Integration option. The participant in question will be re-categorised under the Part-Time Job option and will be eligible to apply for a third year on CE.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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49. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an exemption to the existing rules on community employment schemes, to enable participants who are over 60 years of age to continue after retirement. [29363/15]

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 job seekers 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 11.4% (June 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. This is extensive for an active labour market programme. However, I am currently examining this issue.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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50. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the term limits for participants in the community employment schemes who are near 65 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29364/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Community Employment (CE) has an upper age limit for funding of a participant. This is set at the State Pension age (66 years of age at present). No funding will be made available under CE for those participants who qualify for the State Pension. This has been the case on CE since the programme commenced in April 1994.

There are also limits on the maximum duration of participation. For a participant of 55 years of age or older, their maximum cumulative duration is 6 years (inclusive of any time spent on CE when they were younger than 55). However, should they reach State Pension age before completing the cumulative maximum allowable duration, the funding will cease at that point.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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51. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has saved any money by not renewing community employment schemes for those persons over 60 years of age. [29365/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that there are no savings to the Department by the non-renewal of Community Employment (CE) Scheme places for those of 60 years of age or older, or indeed any age, as the CE places are back-filled by other eligible customers. This turnover of places allows the programme to maximise access to the opportunities provided by Community Employment (valuable work experience, accredited training, etc.).

Persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age can remain on CE for a cumulative maximum of 6 years, inclusive of any time spent on CE prior to their 55^thbirthday. Once they have completed 6years’ participation, or reach State Pension age, they must leave the programme. Persons who were in receipt of a disability-linked social welfare payment may avail of one additional year’s participation on the programme.