Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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517. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a community employment scheme placement will be extended in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46616/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Instead, the placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market.

In general, placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year. Those participants who are working towards a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major award can seek to extend their participation on CE by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification. Participants aged 55 years or older can remain on CE for three years and do not have to work towards a QQI major award.

In both instances, a maximum of three consecutive year’s participation is permissible. A person may re-qualify for CE after a 12 month break once they satisfy the qualifying conditions. An overall lifetime limit of six years applies to all CE participants (seven years for those on a disability payment).

The lifetime participation limit for the person concerned (312 weeks / 6 years) has been exceeded, their time having been extended due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. The person concerned is scheduled to leave the scheme on the 19th November 2021 under a phased exit programme. The Departments' Employment Support Service will work with former CE participants to ensure the benefits and experience they received during their time on CE are maximised.