Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the outcome of consultations with key stakeholders regarding community employment and other activation measures which took place in May 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50468/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s Report - An Analysis of the Community Employment Programmewas published in April this year. Following the publication my Department undertook nationwide consultation workshops with key Community Employment (CE) scheme stakeholders during May and early June. The consultation was very positive and following the workshops new changes to CE conditions were implemented from 3rd July 2017. 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.These changes include reducing the general qualifying age for CE, for those on the live register, from 25 to 21 years. It addition it is now easier for previous participants, who have exhausted their CE entitlement, to requalify as participation prior to the year 2007 is disregarded. From July all participants between 21 and 55 years are entitled to one year on the programme and 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. Furthermore all CE participants age 55 and over can now avail of 3 consecutive years on a CE scheme. There is an overall lifetime limit of 6 years from 2007 (or 7 years if on a disability payment) on CE.

The roll-out of the ‘two strand approach’ of activation and social inclusion in terms of how places are categorised is also being progressed. This approach recognised that not all CE places are the same – some places are providing an opportunity for those who are very distant from the labour market and but interested in working and delivering services in their local community.

Other places are more directly related to employment opportunities with participants achieving a higher level of award and more labour market relevant work experience. The target progression rate for activation places is set at 50%, given their closer links to job opportunities, while the target progression rate for social inclusion places is set at 20%. In terms of measuring the performance of CE schemes in terms of the progression of participants from both activation and social inclusion places regard for local labour market conditions and the training and education opportunities available.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy .