Kildare based Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has welcomed Cabinet approval for a number of major reforms to Community Employment, Tús and the Rural Social Scheme.
The purpose of CE and Tús is to provide long term unemployed participants with work experience in their local communities to help them find employment.
Senator O’Loughlin said, “There are currently over 19,000 participants on CE, almost 5,000 participants on Tús and just under 3,000 participants on the Rural Social Scheme. Government investment in the three schemes will amount to over €500million in 2022 which is a hugely significant allocation.”
“There reforms will see the removal of the six-year time limit for all participants on the Rural Social Scheme. Eligibility for Tús will be extended to persons in receipt of Disability Payments, as well as
new flexibility to allow CE schemes to directly recruit eligible candidates to fill 30% of places. “
Fiona concluded “Almost 27,000 people participate on these schemes, working part time, to provide services to local communities including in disadvantaged and rural communities. These schemes provide key services to our communities, and these reforms are positive in my view”
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