Written answers

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

Department of Social Protection

Community Employment Schemes Review

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to review the provision in the community employment programme for older jobseekers over 62 years of age which restricts the number that an area project manager can employ on a scheme, as it discriminates on the basis of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18766/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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.

CE is open to participants aged up to 65 years of age who meet the current eligibility criteria. A pilot initiative was introduced 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 aged 62 and over 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 total number of places allocated for these participants within each individual CE scheme is limited to 7% of each scheme’s overall budgeted places.

The limitation on such places per scheme is in place to maintain the overall throughput on the programme. The participation limits set allow for the highest utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons and aim to ensure the benefit of these schemes are available to the widest possible number of jobseekers.

My Department is not aware of any issues arising with the limits in place at present. If the Deputy has details of a specific case I would ask that he bring it to the attention of my office. All aspects of the operation of activation programmes are kept under review to ensure the best outcomes for participants.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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