James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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673. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a review of the participation of older persons on community employment schemes will be completed; and if the review will be published. [42804/17]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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674. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce changes to the criteria related to the community employment scheme, particularly related to the two year limit on a person’s assignment to the scheme. [42805/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 673 and 674 together.

Following the publication of my Department’s Report - An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme – earlier in the year, the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions around 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, to standardise eligibility and other conditions regarding the length of time a person can participate on the programme and to promote progression outcomes.

The changes, which are effective since 3 July 2017, has seen the general qualifying age for CE, for those on the live register, reduced from 25 to 21 years. It will also now 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 can avail of one year on the programme, this can be extended on approval by the Department by up to two more years, if they are working towards a major award/industry recognised equivalent to support their progression to employment. CE participants aged 55 and over can now avail of up to three consecutive years on a scheme. An overall lifetime limit of six years will apply to CE participants (seven years if on a disability payment). A person may re-qualify for CE after 12 months of being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, provided they have not reached their six year limit.

Further changes, which will be progressed over the coming months, include the roll-out of the ‘two strand approach’ of activation and social inclusion in terms of how CE places are categorised.

In addition, a review of the participation of older people on schemes is being undertaken and I expect that this will be completed in the coming weeks. The question of publication will be considered once the review is completed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.