Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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644. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the possibility of allowing a person (details supplied) to take up a position on a community employment scheme will be investigated. [37288/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for prospective future employment.  It helps to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. 

Under the Service Support Stream (SSS) on CE, participants aged 62 years and over who meet the eligibility criteria may remain on CE up to the State Pension age. The places available under this stream are subject to eligibility criteria. I amended the criteria last year to ensure that these places can be availed of once a person reaches age 62.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, the person is not currently on CE, however it is open to them to apply for a placement under the SSS on reaching 62 in February 2020.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.