Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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185. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons who have completed a six year term on a community employment scheme and who are approaching retirement age to be granted an extension to their participation in the scheme, in order that they can continue to work, if that is their choice, rather than receive a jobseeker's allowance in the intervening period, before they come to retirement age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37539/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other vulnerable persons (including lone parents, recovering drug mis-users and persons with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in part-time work and training within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis.

With respect to the participants exhausting their time on the programme, all CE sponsors and participants are aware of the time limits for participation, which are extensive for certain individuals particularly those over 55 years, who can already participate for up to 6 years on CE. The participation limits allow for the utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons, to ensure the benefit of the CE scheme to the widest possible number of jobseekers. The Department is, however, currently examining this issue and will keep it under review.