Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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289. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of community employment places provided in each of the years from 2013 to date in 2016; the number of these that were unfilled for periods during each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39515/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The aim of the community employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. My Department is also very conscious of the valuable contribution the schemes are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.

The number of people on CE fluctuates on an ongoing basis as vacancies arise and are filled on schemes. With reducing numbers on the Live Register, which is the main target cohort for CE, demand for places may also vary.

The numbers of people employed on CE at the end of December 2013 to 2015 and at end November 2016 are as follows:

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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290. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans for the community employment scheme for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39516/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of activation supports and programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These include programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús. As the Deputy will be aware, CE schemes provide part-time temporary work in their local communities, including opportunities for training and development as a stepping-stone back to employment, for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments, including those on a long-term jobseeker’s payment.

CE schemes help to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. My Department is also very conscious of the valuable contribution the schemes are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.

With the ongoing welcome reductions in the Live Register, issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes, including CE, are all being considered. I hope to be in a position to bring a Memorandum to Government on these matters in the coming weeks. If there are any changes to be made, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.