Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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167. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the community employment scheme. [39519/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned commenced a Community Employment (CE) scheme on 11^thOctober 2010 under the Part-Time Integration (PTI) option. This option caters for persons under 55 years of age who have spent a period of less than 3 years on the Live Register before commencing CE. As set out in the scheme guidelines, this option is a work programme offering eligible participants part-time work and training for oneyear. Specific progression placement targets are set for participants approved under this option; in certain circumstances some participants may be re-engaged for a consecutive 12 months where this is deemed to further the participant’s employment prospects. Under the PTI option a person may be eligible to participate on CE for a maximum continuous period of 2 years, continued participation being subject to annual approval by the Department. After this 2 year period has elapsed, a person must have spent at least another 12 months on the Live Register before again being eligible to participate on CE.

The maximum period of participation permitted for any person who is under 55 years of age when commencing CE is 3 years. Notwithstanding the eligibility criteria for persons in his circumstances, participation for the person concerned has been approved for a continuous period of over 5 years to date. His previous finish date has already been extended by a further 6 weeks to 6^thNovember 2015 to enable the scheme complete his exit strategy. His participation cannot be extended beyond that date.