AN EXPANSION of the Community Employment Scheme will allow for greater flexibility, a Clare TD has highlighted.
Concerns on the CES had been flagged by Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) before the West Clare Municipal District in recent weeks with Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys (FG) informing Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) in recent days that she will announce an expansion of the scheme in the New Year, subject to Government approval.
Part-time and temporary placements in jobs are offered to people that fit the bill of being long-term unemployed or otherwise disadvantaged as part of the Community Employment (CE) programme.
Deputy Carey explained, “At present CE participants aged 62 years and over who meet the eligibility requirements may stay continuously on CE up to the age at which they qualify for a State pension, providing there are places available”.
This option is set to be available to persons aged 60 and over which Carey welcomed as “a significant expansion of the CE Scheme, allowing more people to stay on the scheme continuously up to pension age. The Minister also confirmed to me that she intends to significantly increase the number of referrals to CE schemes from Intreo Offices. It has become apparent this route hasn’t been utilised enough”.
He added, “It was also confirmed to me that flexibility will be introduced to ensure that in exceptional circumstances where schemes genuinely cannot find replacement CE participants after advertising, etc, existing participants contracts can be extended on a short-term basis to maintain services until a replacement CE participant is found”.
CE schemes play a “hugely important” role, the Clarecastle native outlined. “These changes will strengthen that impact and also help to ensure continuity of the services that are of such benefit to communities across the country”.
