Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reviews undertaken regarding the community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53280/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Following the publication, earlier this 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 CE.

The main purpose of the changes is to broaden access to CE to a wider range of people. The changes saw the general qualifying age for CE, for those on the live register, reduced from 25 to 21 years. It is now also easier for previous participants, who have exhausted their CE entitlement, to requalify as participation prior to the year 2007 has been disregarded. While participants aged between 21 and 55 years are 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 aged 55 and over will be able to avail of 3 consecutive years on a CE. There will be an overall limit of 6 years from 2007 (or 7 years if on a disability payment).

The Government is very conscious of the value of these schemes, both in terms of work experience and training they provide to assist long-term unemployed people to return to employment, and also the benefit of these schemes to communities across Ireland supporting community services in childcare, health and social care, and local facilities.

I have asked my officials to forward a copy of the CE Report to the Deputy for her consideration.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.