Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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80. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the operation of the community employment scheme; if he will report on his earlier commitment to assist community employment sponsors in ensuring maximum utilisation of community employment places in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2729/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, CE schemes 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. At the end of December 2016, there were 22,356 participants employed on CE schemes nationally.

The CE Sponsors advertise their vacancies free-of-charge on the Department's JobsIreland website - www.jobsireland.ie. Posting vacancies is a relatively simple process and a dedicated video tutorial is available on the site to assist sponsors. Anyone requiring further assistance can contact my Department’s National Contact Centre by phone at Lo Call 1890 800 024 or (01) 248 1398, or by email at jobsireland@welfare.ie. Further enhancements will be made to the way in which CE vacancies are displayed on the site in the coming months.

Jobseekers can also view CE vacancies online. Eligible candidates are referred to sponsors by case officers in the local Intreo Centres. My Department continues to refer candidates so I would advise sponsors, who have any recruitment concerns, to contact their local DSP office.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.