John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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193. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of active participants on community employment schemes. [40829/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Community Employment (CE) schemes provide 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 qualifying of social welfare payments. These schemes help to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market.

The total number of participants active on CE schemes at end June 2017 was 22,053. My Department is conscious of the valuable contribution the schemes and participants are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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194. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of community employment schemes that are engaged in crèche and after school services. [40830/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department introduced a new Community Employment (CE) childcare strand in 2013 under which there is a dedicated childcare training programme leading to a major award at QQI Level 5 for CE participants who work directly with children. The QQI Major Level 5 Award is the entry level requirement to work as a basic practitioner in childcare. This has led to rationalised entry requirements, defined standards of achievement, a career progression path, and a structure for CE workers in Early Years Services.

These changes are designed to provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community childcare and achieve greater coherence between participation on CE and the job market. This will improve the career path for participants who wish to pursue a career in childcare.

As at the end of March 2017, there were just over 150 CE schemes with approximately 1,600 participants directly engaged in the provision of crèche and after school services.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.