Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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509. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in respect of the community employment programme, to grant extensions to existing placements beyond the maximum duration entitlement in instances where a project sponsor is unable to recruit a suitable replacement participant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9898/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department keeps the eligibility criteria for Community Employment (CE) places under on-going review to ensure that they are effective in targeting long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups. The eligibility rules and maximum durations allowed for participants are strictly enforced to allow the maximum number of people to benefit from the opportunity of a CE placement.

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, while remaining within the eligibility guidelines.

The Department is committed to continuing to enhance 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.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.