Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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640. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a contract will be extended for a person (details supplied). [9719/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that the supervisor in question has provided throughout her tenure, and that of the CE sponsoring bodies in running CE schemes throughout the country along with the wide range of employment opportunities offered.

CE is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and others with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring bodies that receive state funding from the Department to cover the cost of CE employee remuneration.

Funding for CE supervisors is available until the person reaches the state pension age and they may remain on CE until the working day before they reach the state pension age as follows:

- 66 for those born before 1 January 1955;

- 67 for those born on or after 1 January 1955; and

- 68 for those born on or after 1 January 1961

CE supervisors may apply for a State Pension on retirement from CE.

I am advised that the recruitment process for a new CE supervisor with the CE sponsoring body in question is currently underway and officials from my Department are actively engaging with the CE sponsoring body to support this process.