Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1471. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons under 26 years of age participating in the community employment scheme on or before July 2017, in tabular form; when the CE scheme rules were changed; the data available on the number of young persons under 26 years of age participating on the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19698/19]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1473. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the additional annual cost of a young person on the €112.70 weekly jobseeker's allowance rate participating on a community employment scheme for 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19700/19]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1474. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the additional annual cost of a young person on the €157.80 weekly jobseeker's allowance rate participating on a community employment scheme for 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19701/19]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1475. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of young persons in each year of age between 18 and 25 participating on a community employment scheme in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19702/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1471 and 1473 to 1475, inclusive, together.

Community Employment (CE) schemes provide part-time temporary work in their local communities, including opportunities for training and development as a stepping-stone back to employment, for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments, including those on a long-term jobseeker’s payment.

The general qualifying age for CE for those on the Live Register was reduced from 25 to 21 years in 2017.  There is an overall limit of 6 years participation from 2007 (7 years if on a disability payment). While participants between 21 and 55 years on CE 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 age 55 and over can avail of 3 consecutive years on a CE scheme.

Table 1 below shows the number of young persons under 26 years of age participating in CE on or before July 2017.  Details of those aged 18 to 25 years participating on a community employment scheme is outlined in Table 2.  An estimate of the additional annual cost of employing persons who are under 26 years of age on the CE programme is outlined in Table 3.  This costing is based on 52 weeks payment of the personal rate and does not include an increase for a qualified adult or an increase for a qualified child/ren or any other associated costs.

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3