A local TD has hit out at the amount of paperwork involved in the Community Employment (CE) Programme which is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements.
East Galway TD Seán Canney said that following a meeting with CE supervisors and community groups, he has concluded that those responsible for the scheme have ‘lost touch with reality’.
The CE supervisors and local groups complained of a ‘huge increase’ in unnecessary paperwork, duplication of paperwork and difficulties in getting referrals from the Department of Social Protection to fill vacant places.
Deputy Canney said the value of the CE Scheme to communities is enormous, but the voluntary local community groups are now being tasked with extra responsibilities which is not fair on these voluntary community groups.
“It is time that the Department re-calibrate their thinking and ensure that the participants, the supervisors, and the Community groups are treated as one team working with the Department to deliver an effective scheme,” he said.
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