Written answers

Thursday, 3 December 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Community Employment Schemes

Photo of Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorJennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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83. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a reduction in the minimum threshold for which a person must be in receipt of social welfare in order to gain access to a community employment scheme in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied) will be investigated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29629/20]

Photo of Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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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 employment opportunities. The scheme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment.

In order to qualify for CE, a number of conditions, including being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specific period, must be met.

The focus of CE is on the cohort of long-term unemployed people and the programme is monitored on an on-going basis to ensure that the schemes are meeting the training and development needs of the CE participants and also delivering the intended services in the local communities.

The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants. A number of new conditions were introduced on CE in July 2017 to further support progression and broaden access to CE to a wider range of people. CE continues to support those who are furthest removed from the labour market and it is not the Department's intention to amend the CE guidelines or qualifying criteria at this particular time.

As part of the July Jobs Stimulus, the Government announced an additional 3,000 places on State Employment Schemes, including CE and Tús.

My Department officials will work with CE sponsoring authorities to make the additional CE placements available to suitable initiatives, subject to the agreed scheme qualification criteria.

I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities.

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