Minister announces good news for older workers

TANAISTE and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney, has announced new changes in Community Employment which means older workers can now benefit from an extended period of participation in the programme.

Persons over 50 years of age may now remain in the programme longer than the normal period of three years.

Making the announcement, the Tanaiste said ‘Despite the many employment opportunities currently available in the labour market, it is clear that some participants on CE continue to experience difficulties in getting jobs whether due to age, health, literacy, numeracy, or a lack of suitable jobs locally’.

"In recognition of this, I have decided to remove the three year limit on participation for people over 50 years of age in certain cases. In the future, people over 50 who, having spent three years on the Programme, continue to experience difficulties in getting employment, may have their participation in the scheme extended. For such participants FAS will have discretion to offer a further period on the Programme on a case by case basis," the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste continued "In addition, I have decided that in the case of those in the younger age groups who are also experiencing difficulty in obtaining employment, FAS should have the flexibility to offer a further period of participation of up to one year. This flexibility will apply in those cases where it is clear that an extension would be of benefit to the participants in terms of improving their prospects of progressing to a job in the open labour market". (CL)