Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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31. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the time limits for Community Employment Schemes, particularly in cases where there are no new applicants for positions vacated as a result of the time limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1136/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged 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.

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 have up to 6 years on CE. The participation limits aim to ensure the benefit of CE is available to the widest possible number of jobseekers.

The Deputy should note that I recently launched a pilot scheme under CE whereby people who are 62 years and over will have the option of participating on the scheme on a continuous basis, until they reach the State Pension age.

The new Service Support Stream is available, on a pilot basis, from 4th January 2016 to new entrants and to current CE participants who are aged 62 years and over and who meet the scheme eligibility requirements. It will be available to:

- Participants currently on CE who have reached age 62 and who have exhausted all the activation options available to them;

- New entrants who are aged 62 and over who are eligible for CE; and

- Those aged 62 and over who have exhausted their time on CE previously.

The Department’s Intreo offices and staff co-ordinate the recruitment process for CE at a local level and will be happy to assist in relation to any local recruitment issues.