Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Community Employment (CE) programme aims to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis. There are currently over 18,600 participants on CE with a Budget of almost €367 million for 2023.

CE schemes are typically sponsored by voluntary and community organisations wishing to benefit the local community. As the employers, these sponsoring organisations contract with the Department of Social Protection, on an annual basis, to provide participants with good quality work experience.

Eligible work placements under these schemes are identified by the scheme sponsors in response to an identified community need and provide development opportunities for participants. The projects and work undertaken must not displace or replace existing jobs. CE sponsor groups provide valuable and dedicated services in communities all over the country.

The Deputy’s office has clarified that the eligible non-profit bodies referred to in the question are public libraries. Local Authorities have primary responsibility for managing and developing library services which are staffed by public servants and part of the State's public services. They would not meet the qualifying criteria for CE placements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.