Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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173. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reduce the number of community employment scheme members for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5051/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) aims to help the long-term unemployed to re-enter the workforce by breaking their cycle of unemployment through a return to a regular work routine. To this end, CE also provides training and development to participants.

With the ongoing welcome reduction in the Live Register, issues such the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on all employment schemes, including CE are all being considered. In any consideration of these schemes, it will be important also to be cognisant of the valuable community and voluntary services delivered to local communities.I hope to be in position to bring a Memo to Government on these matters in the coming weeks. If there are any changes to be made consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.