Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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135. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a derogation from the requirement of a 60% progression rate for participants of community employment schemes in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25059/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Work schemes offer opportunities for the long-term unemployed to gain valuable work experience and participate in training while they are paid an equivalent to their social welfare entitlement in addition to a top-up payment. Participants work for 19½ hours per week. Work opportunities are within communities and, in the main, support the provision of valuable community services in areas of disadvantage.

The Government strongly supports the work being done through Community Employment (CE) and the other employment programmes. I have seen first-hand myself, over recent months, the vital role such schemes are playing in local communities, including supporting social services, across the entire country.

With this in mind I plan to implement a number of changes to the terms and conditions of participation on CE. The main purpose of these changes is to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.

It is also proposed that all CE places will be categorised into one of two strands, either activation, with a target progression rate set at 50%, or social inclusion, with a target progression rate set at 20%. This categorisation will be based primarily on the work experience element of the place. In considering the outcomes achieved by a particular scheme, consideration will be given to local labour market conditions and other factors impacting on progression opportunities.

My Department keeps all aspects of its employment programmes under review to ensure the best outcomes for participants. As part of the implementation of these new measures, my Department is currently consulting with key stakeholders across the country.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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136. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a relaxation of the eligibility criteria will be considered for community employment schemes in rural areas that are experiencing difficulties in getting eligible participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25060/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government strongly supports the work being done through Community Employment (CE) and the other employment programmes. I have seen first-hand myself, over recent months, the vital role such schemes are playing in local communities, including supporting social services, across the entire country.

With this in mind I plan to implement a number of changes to the terms and conditions of participation on CE. The main purpose of these changes is to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.

The changes I am planning to introduce will see the general qualifying age for CE for those on the live register reduced from 25 to 21 years. It will also be easier for previous participants, who have exhausted their CE entitlement, to requalify as participation prior to the year 2007 will be disregarded. While participants between 21 and 55 years on CE will be entitled to one year on the programme, this can be extended by up to 2 more years if they are engaged in a recognised training or education award that is helping them progress towards employment. All CE participants age 55 and over will be able to avail of 3 consecutive years on a CE scheme. There will be an overall limit of 6 years participation from 2007 (7 years if on a disability payment).

In addition I have also agreed to review the current participation limits for older people on CE within the next three months. As the Deputy will be aware, participation limits are necessary to allow for the utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons to ensure the benefits of CE are available to the widest possible number of jobseeker's.

As part of the implementation of the new measures, my Department is currently consulting with key stakeholders across the country. If any scheme is experiencing particular difficulties, they should contact their local DSP Intreo office for assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.