Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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486. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to expand the number of places available on employment schemes across the country (details supplied), in particular for existing participants and potential applicants over the age of 55; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13366/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Expenditure on work programmes and the number of participants increased significantly in recent years in a response to the high levels of unemployment. The numbers of places available on work programmes, including Community Employment (CE), Tús and Rural Social Scheme (RSS), have grown from 25,000 in 2010 to just over 39,000 in 2016 (56% increase). Tús was introduced - and the numbers on CE were expanded - as a direct response to the growth in the level of unemployment during the financial crisis. With the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, a review of these schemes is necessary to ensure that the number and nature of schemes continues to be appropriate. I will be considering all of these issues over the coming months.

The current pattern of participation on a work programme is dependent on the individual circumstance of each person and the length of time s/he has been in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment. The participation limits that have been set allow for the highest utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons and to ensure the benefit of these schemes are available to the widest possible number of jobseekers. My Department keeps all aspects of its activation programmes under review to ensure the best outcomes for participants.