Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

569. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider reversing the community employment criteria for over-55s and returning it to five consecutive years from three; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12131/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.

The Deputy may be aware that Minister Humphreys and I held an online meeting on Wednesday, 27th January with representatives from the CE sponsoring authorities. The representatives outlined a range of issues that are causing concern within their schemes. My Department officials are currently examining a number of issues raised during the conference call.

One of the issues raised by CE sponsors was the implication of a 2017 rule change that affected CE participants aged 55 years and older who were on CE in July 2017. Following an examination by Departmental officials, I wish to confirm that those CE participants who were affected by the rule change in July 2017, who were on CE at that time, now have the option of remaining on CE for a maximum of six consecutive years, in accordance with the terms of the saver clause included in the 2017 rule changes.

Department staff will work with CE sponsoring authorities to identify those eligible CE participants.

The Deputy should also note that since the start of the pandemic, my Department has introduced a number of contingency measures, including the extension of CE participant contracts that were due to finish during the Level-5 periods of restriction. The contract extension date has recently been extended until 2nd July, 2021. Extensions introduced since last October will be of benefit to approximately 7,000 existing employment support scheme participants.

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 through the provision of services.