Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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154. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify his comments describing some community employment scheme participants as being persons who find it difficult to hold down a job; the basis for these remarks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19043/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Community Employment (CE) has its origins in 1994. At that time, long-term unemployment was undermining the employability of many individuals and the capacity of communities to function as cohesive social structures. The alienation experienced by the long-term unemployed often reflected a sense of disempowerment in their communities. CE acted as a resource for communities to identify their own needs and priorities and, over the years, it became a vital service to communities both in rural areas and areas of urban disadvantage. It developed into a unique programme that integrates employment interventions and training for the individual with community services. The programme addresses the multiple needs of people who are often far from ‘employment ready’ and experiencing a range of social and economic problems by operating within local and community contexts and responding to the needs identified by a variety of community agencies.

As the Deputy is aware, CE is a labour market activation programme which helps long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged groups to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists participants to enhance and develop skills which can then be used in the workplace.

Many people on the Live Register generally exit it again within a short-time frame, without any recourse to employment schemes or intensive activation measures. However, some people do require more assistance and support to return to work and schemes like CE are designed to do just that. These types of programmes deliver on two levels. On the one hand, they provide a person who is unemployed with the opportunity of work experience and to develop new skills to prepare them for employment in the open labour market. Secondly, they play a very important role in augmenting service delivery to local communities in key areas such as childcare, health and social care, drug rehabilitation and local amenities.

Both participant and local communities have benefitted from these programmes. In fact, I have seen this myself, at first hand, over the past few months when I visited various schemes throughout the country and spoke directly to participants about their experience on CE.

My commitment to CE is evident in the recent changes I announced which will widen the range of people who can take part. My Department will be undertaking a consultation process with stakeholders in the coming weeks.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.