Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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266. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding community employment scheme rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40297/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. The programme helps break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. In addition, the scheme operates a ring-fenced CE Drugs Response for people who have experienced addiction issues.

The eligibility for participation on the CE is dependent on the individual circumstances of each person and the length of time she or he has been in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment.

Disability clients self-refer to CE where they can avail of training and education supports to develop their skill sets and enhance their employability. In general all new CE entrants aged between 21 and 55 years can participate for 1 year. CE participants, working towards a major award, can seek to extend participation by up to two years to enable then to reach the required standard of qualification and by three years for participants who qualified through a disability-linked payment.

Persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked social welfare payment are eligible for an overall lifetime limit on a CE scheme of 7 years.

My Department is committed to supporting people with disability to participate more fully in society and to become more self-sufficient by providing employment activation supports that address barriers that they may face.

The person to whom the Deputy refers should contact their local INTREO centre to discuss options available to them.