Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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2099. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a review of the community employment scheme is taking place at present; the purpose of the review; if the further curtailment of the time persons can spend on a scheme is anticipated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28803/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication earlier in the year of my Department’s Report - An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme -the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions of participation on Community Employment (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 planned 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). My Department has been consulting with key stakeholders throughout the country during the last month about the changes and it is planned to begin rolling them out over the coming weeks.

In addition, the Deputy should note that the current participation limits for older people on CE are being reviewed. 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 jobseekers. There is no other review of CE taking place at present.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.