Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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163. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the community employment schemes; if there are changes in the policy relating to these schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42722/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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From January to the end of October 2015, approximately 30,000 people have benefitted from a Community Employment (CE) place, of which 23,876 are currently engaged in around 1,000 separate schemes throughout the country. The budget for CE for 2015 is €373.3 million.

Significant improvements have been made to the operation and governance of CE since 2012 and these continue in 2015. These improvements have taken place in the context of a changing profile of participants on CE in a challenging economic environment.

In the past two years, the Department has introduced a special programme for participants entering CE to work on schemes providing early childhood services. A similar programme is being introduced for participants entering social care services. The conditions of participation for these groups have been adjusted to accommodate participants engaging in FETAC Major Awards at Level 5 which is the basic entry requirement to employment in these sectors. CE participants on these schemes are permitted to remain for up to a maximum of 3 years continuous participation, on annually renewable contracts and subject to satisfactory engagement in the completion of training and work practice. These conditions apply to all CE participants in these streams.

The Department recently launched a new Programme Framework for CE Drug Rehabilitation schemes. The community and voluntary sector and CE sponsoring organisations have made a valuable contribution to the design and content of the programme. Workshops have been provided to CE sponsors and to Departmental staff on the objectives and operation of the Framework which will commence in mid-January 2016. Referred clients can have up to 4 years duration on a rehabilitation scheme and support workers can have up to 3 years continuous participation with annual review provided they are engaged in a relevant major award.

The Department seeks to improve its labour market programmes, including CE, on an ongoing basis.