Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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436. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can be permitted to remain on the community employment scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11067/23]

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 long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities. The programme aims to improve a person’s opportunities to return to the labour market.

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 long-term unemployed candidates. Those who are unemployed and in receipt of an eligible payment for 12 months or more may be eligible to participate on CE.

In light of the COVID related challenges faced by CE schemes I announced a number of reforms to CE since the start of 2022. As part of these reforms and to assist schemes to maintain services in communities, participants including those with extended contracts, may not be required to leave CE where a suitable replacement has not been referred to the scheme. Extensions under this provision must be approved by officials from the Department and consideration will be given to the recruitment and referral efforts made by the scheme. This does provide schemes with additional flexibility to retain participants where required to maintain services in communities. The current extension period is 6 months.

The CE participant concerned has been working in the role of Personal Assistant and is due to complete his eligible time on the CE project on 21/04/2023. However, if no suitable replacement is referred to the scheme before that date, the scheme can choose to submit a request to the Department to retain the CE participant concerned for a 6 month extension period. The scheme is familiar with the Department's process for 6 month extensions.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.