Sherlock seeks extension to Community Employment schemes

With the Government extending lockdown restrictions to April 5th, Cork East Labour TD Seán Sherlock has sought a further extension to the Community Employment contracts to allow participants to engage fully with the scheme

Speaking on the matter this week, Deputy Sherlock said, “I raised this matter with the ministers in the Department of Social Protection and Rural and Community Affairs in a Dáil debate at the end of January. With the new announcements from the Government on the extension of public health restrictions, it is obvious that Community Employment should be extended in a similar fashion”.

ESSENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVICE

Responding to Deputy Sherlock, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said: “The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.

“As the Deputy is aware, my Department has continued to provide funding and support for CE schemes since the onset of the Covid-19 emergency in March 2020. CE participants, whose contracts were due to end during periods of Level 5 restrictions have had their contracts extended for the duration of these restrictions on a number of occasions. This provided certainty for CE participants and assured continuity of essential community services provided by CE schemes throughout the country,” she said.

The Minister confirmed that her Department are committed to the scheme, with dates being reviewed.

“The Deputy will recall that when the latest Level 5 restrictions were introduced, it was agreed at that time to extend the CE contracts concerned to the 26th March, 2021 with the relevant participants exiting CE on a phased and planned basis after that date. In light of the announcement yesterday regarding the extension of the Level 5 restrictions to early April and the associated decisions by Government to extend supports to individuals and businesses impacted by the pandemic until the end of June, my colleague, Minister Humphreys, and I are currently reviewing this date to ensure that CE participants and schemes will not be left behind in this regard.

“I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services,” she concluded.