Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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605. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a community employment scheme will be extended for another year in the case of a person (details supplied). [7721/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Community employment (CE) is the largest employment programme administered by my Department. It aims to enhance the employability and mobility of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. In addition, it helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine.

One of the Government’s primary strategies is to tackle unemployment. To date, policy and actions have been effective in reducing long-term unemployment and these continue to focus on supporting the long-term unemployed. The Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy prioritises long-term unemployed people by engaging systematically with this group and through employment and training programmes such as CE.

My officials will examine the case raised by the Deputy and revert in due course.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.