Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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721. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a request to retain a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with particular reference to the fact that both employee and employer wish to maintain the status quo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42825/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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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.

My Department has supported CE schemes since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.  CE participants, whose contracts were due to end during the periods of restrictions, have had their contracts extended for the duration of those restrictions.

In June this year, I announced that the existing CE participants' contract extension date would be further extended until 29/10/2021 and that the conclusion of these places would be undertaken on a coordinated and phased basis.  Over 11,000 CE and Tús participants are benefiting from this latest contract extension up to the end of October next.  This approach will give participants time to complete training and work experience, while also supporting the delivery of important community services. 

While the extension of placements helps to alleviate immediate pressures, it is important to note that CE placements are intended to be temporary and subject to time limits.  This is to ensure the continued availability of places on CE schemes for other candidates.  The current extensions will therefore be reviewed as the economy re-opens and it is hoped that we can return to a normal level of throughput in order that places will be available to new candidates including those displaced from employment due to COVID-19.

The person concerned commenced on the CE scheme on 15/10/2018 and will have completed his 3 years allowable on CE on 08/10/2021.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the person concerned received an extension to 29/10/2021. 

During his time on CE, the person concerned has received relevant work experience in the area of maintenance, caretaking and grounds work.  He has completed certification in industry related courses such as Workplace Safety, Fire Safety, Manual Handling, Safe Pass, Abrasive Wheels and Handheld Pesticide Applications.  In advance of leaving the project, the CE Supervisor will help him prepare an exit plan to assist his return to the labour market.

On finishing CE, the person concerned may be referred to my Department’s JobPath service who can work with him to ensure that the benefits of the experience and training received during his time on CE are maximised.  The person concerned may receive one-to-one intensive and regular engagement with a personal adviser who can assess his skills, experience, challenges and work goals and assist him in finding full-time sustainable employment.  This process can also help identify potential employment opportunities and can offer support to overcoming any barriers to employment.  A person may re-qualify for CE after a period of one year in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, subject to not having exceeded the lifetime maximum period on CE.

The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants.  CE will continue to be made available to support those who are long-term unemployed and furthest removed from the labour market, while maintaining the role of CE as an active labour market programme.  

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.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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722. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a request to retain a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with particular reference to the fact that both employee and employer wish to maintain the status quo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42826/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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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 person concerned commenced on the CE scheme on 30/04/2018 and completed his 3 years allowable on CE on 23/04/2021.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the person concerned received an extension to 02/07/2021 which has now been further extended to at least 29/10/2021. 

CE participants aged 62 years and over who meet the eligibility requirements may apply for further participation under the Service Support Stream (SSS).  Participation is subject to the availability of SSS places, satisfactory performance on the CE scheme, recommendation by the Scheme Sponsor and annual approval by my Department.  It is open to the person concerned to apply for a place under the SSS option with effect from 01/11/2021 and if successful he may remain on the scheme until he reaches State pension age on 08/03/2022. 

I trust this clarifies the matter.