Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on recruitment barriers in community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8886/16]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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14. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to introduce provisions on the minimum age and eligibility for community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8887/16]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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15. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to allow additional financial support for lone parents on community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8896/16]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to set the minimum time on community employment schemes at two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8897/16]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to allow all persons over 62 years of age to stay on community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8898/16]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, together.

Community Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people (those 12-months or more in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment) and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. It is designed to be a temporary fixed-term activation intervention. The programme assists participants to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace.

A number of persons who sign on to the Live Register generally exit it again within a short timeframe, without any recourse to employment schemes or intensive activation measures. Accordingly, it is considered appropriate that the CE scheme will remain focused on those who are long-term unemployed. There are other interventions and activation options operated by the Department for those who are short-term unemployed, for example, advice on job-search activities and the use of online job search tools.

In general participants can avail of 12 months participation on CE. There are no plans to extend the standard CE participation period up to two years minimum as this would result in a reduction in throughput from the scheme, thereby reducing the overall number of CE beneficiaries per year.

The standard minimum entry age for CE is 25 years of age. It is worth noting that the entry age for dedicated childcare and health and social care positions that involve working directlywith service users was lowered to 21 years of age. There are no plans to further reduce the standard minimum entry for other positions.

With effect from 3^rdApril 2000, lifetime cumulative participation on CE by an individual is limited to 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age and 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to and including 65 years of age. Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked Social Welfare payment are eligible for one additional year on CE over the standard maximum participation caps. Participation on a CE scheme prior to 3^rdApril 2000 is not counted when calculating the length of time a person can participate. There are no plans to change this date as the duration allows for maximum utilisation of the CE placements amongst the greatest number of participants.

The CE programme provides funding for participants aged up to 65 years of age who meet the current eligibility criteria. The Tánaiste announced a pilot initiative in December 2015 to enable those aged 62 and over to extend their participation beyond the standard maximum participation limits (currently set at 6 years cumulative lifetime participation) providing the eligibility conditions are met. Participants are allowed to participate on a continuous basis up to the State Pension age, subject to satisfactory performance on the scheme and to annual approval by the Department.The places allocated for these participants within each individual CE scheme are limited to 7% of each scheme's overall budgeted places.

With respect to participation by lone parents on CE, in addition to the existing financial supports available, a number of other incentives are in place. This includes the Community Employment Childcare (CEC) programme. As childcare is a crucial element for parents embarking on CE or returning to the workforce, this programme ensures that CE participants get the childcare supports they need to have a better future for themselves and their families.

The eligibility criteria for CE places is kept under ongoing review to ensure they are effective in targeting long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups. In the context of the Local Employment Service (LES) it is intended that they provide an intensive engagement with customers which includes a target of 30% of customers placed into full -time employment. This target does not include those placed into education and training. While CE schemes are intended to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce, they are not full-time sustainable jobs and cannot be included in this target.

If a particular CE scheme is encountering difficulties in recruiting participants, additional assistance can be provided by the local departmental staff to resolve any local barriers or issues. The Department is committed to enhancing the effectiveness of the CE Programme whilst being conscious of the valuable contribution it is making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.