Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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664. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the loss of a caretaker in a community organisation (details supplied) who works under the CE scheme; if any flexibility can be provided in this case, in order for the person to remain in situ; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54825/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Work schemes such as Community Employment (CE) are positive initiatives that enable long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst upskilling themselves for prospective future employment. However, it is important to note that participation on these schemes is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. 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. Participation limits are set on these schemes to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons.

As a result of the COVID-19 emergency and the related public health restrictions, including the recruitment of new CE participants, the Department supported schemes throughout this period by extending participant’s contracts on a number of occasions up until April of this year. Also, to assist with the transition from COVID emergency supports over the next period, participants, including those with extended contracts, were not required to leave CE, where a suitable replacement had not yet been referred to the scheme. This transitionary provision has supported schemes to retain services with the higher-than-normal turnover of participants in 2022. Any extension under this provision must be approved in advance by officials from the Department.

The person concerned commenced CE on 22 July 2019 and under normal conditions of eligibility would have been due to exit CE on 15 July 2022. However, due to the Covid-19 emergency, additional time was allowed to him under the phased exit strategy extending his time to 27 January 2023.

As per normal protocol, for participants who are due to leave CE, Sponsors are expected to commence an exit strategy with the participant approximately three months prior to their exit date. As part of this process, the vacancy must be advertised to allow other potential and interested candidates to be considered. In the event where no suitable candidate is found the Sponsor can then apply for a further extension and this will be considered by my Departmental officials. In this case, if no suitable nominations are received by mid-December 2022 the Sponsor can apply for the extension.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.