James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1606. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 500 of 12 December 2017, the international evidence that justifies the six and seven year lifetime limit for those on work programmes such as the community employment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55282/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department published a report in April 2017 – An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme.This report highlighted research undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which promotes policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world and provide a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems. Their research suggests that in order for government funded labour market policies, such as CE, to be effective they should be temporary and should not become a form of subsided permanent employment.

Participation on Community Employment (CE) and other work programmes is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term. These placements are not full-time sustainable jobs. Overall participation limits are in place to ensure that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from the scheme. My Department’s priority in supporting work programmes is to provide access to good quality work experience and training qualifications to support the progression into employment of job seekers and other vulnerable groups.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.