Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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140. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will assist back into training and employment citizens, especially women, who do not have a recent social insurance record, given recent positive statements on this matter by the Minister of State at her Department; if she will commence this change for retraining and community employment programmes before the conclusion of the 31st Dáil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45423/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Community Employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by the Department and is a valuable resource for both jobseekers and communities. Currently, there are almost 22,500 participants and nearly 1,400 supervisors employed on the programme at a cost of approximately €373m in 2015.

As the Deputy is aware, CE aims to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. In addition, it helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a regular work routine.

Currently to be eligible for CE, a person must be in receipt of one of a number of social welfare payments such as Jobseeker’s Allowance or One Parent Family Payment for 52 weeks. This is in keeping with commitments in Pathways to Workto target initiatives at those who are long-term unemployed. However, it should be noted that there is special provision for individuals who are stabilised drug users and ex-offenders. They are not required to be in receipt of a social welfare payment in order to be referred to CE by an appropriate agency.

The adult dependant of a social welfare claimant is not eligible for CE in their own right as eligibility rests with the main claimant only. Persons engaged in short-term, part-time employment may be eligible for CE if they have been employed no more than 30 days in the previous 12 months. If they exceed 30 worked days in that time, then they fall outside the definition of long-term unemployed for the programme eligibility purposes, as they have proved themselves to be capable of finding and retaining employment.

There are a range of options available to unemployed people who do not qualify for CE, including upskilling and training provided by the Education and Training Boards (ETB), Springboard and Skillnets courses funded through the Department of Education. DSP’s Intreo offices are also in a position to advise clients on the interventions that best suit their individual needs, regardless of their social welfare status.

The Government is committed to supporting as many people as possible to participate more fully in employment and to become more self-sufficient by providing supports that address barriers they may encounter in finding and sustaining employment.