Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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752. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when she plans to publish the review of community employment schemes carried out in 2018; when the recommendations of same will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22395/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to contribute 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.

In early 2019, the Government agreed to establish an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to explore how social inclusion schemes might be organised going forward.

A number of meetings of the IDG took place and a series of follow-up meetings were undertaken with the relevant Departments. There was also a stakeholder consultation process which resulted in a number of submissions that were included in the wider review.

The final Interdepartmental Group report is currently with my Department for consideration and will be submitted to Government in due course.