Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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518. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will address concerns raised (details supplied) in relation to community employment schemes. [19147/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These supports include Community Employment (CE) and JobPath.

CE provides 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. I am also conscious of the valuable contribution the schemes are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.

Job Path aims to place people into full-time sustainable employment. The period of engagement with the service for any individual is typically 52 weeks. During that time they receive intensive individual support to help them overcome barriers to employment.

Jobseekers can only participate in one activation scheme or service at a time. This is to ensure that the scheme and service providers have sufficient time to work with the participants and also that the best use is made of the available places. Persons who are engaged with the JobPath programme are ineligible for CE for the duration of their participation on this service, but can be considered for CE following their time with Jobpath.

The CE scheme referred to by the Deputy has approval for 26 participants with 22 currently employed. A number of recruitment events are planned by the local Intreo office over the coming weeks which will provide an opportunity to identify potential candidates to fill the vacancies on the scheme. My Department will continue to provide support in relation to recruitment and the operation of the scheme. If the scheme wishes to raise issues relating to filling vacancies, officials in their local Intreo office will be happy to assist them.

Following the recent publication of my Department’s report - An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme - nationwide consultations with stakeholders are underway. CE sponsors are being invited to these engagement sessions, as are local public representatives. Staff from my office will be in touch this week with an invitation to this event. If you require any further details on this query please do not hesitate to contact Philip.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.