Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when he will bring a memorandum to Government on the review of the community employment programme; when he will publish same, as outlined by him in October 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2115/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates a number of programmes including Community Employment (CE), Tús, Gateway and the Rural Social Scheme that provide part-time temporary work in 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.

These schemes help to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. My Department is also 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.