605. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection to clarify if Ukrainian refugees here can continue to participate in State employment schemes under the temporary protection transition scheme. [45687/26]

My Department provides a range of supports and programmes catering for the long term unemployed and those most distant from the labour market.  These supports include programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Tús, which are available to Ukrainian refugees who fulfil the scheme criteria.

In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, the schemes also provide important and, in many cases essential services to their local communities.

CE and Tús are employment activation measures 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.

There has been no change to the entitlement of Ukrainians to participate in these employment schemes and they continue to participate on the same basis as all other unemployed persons.  Any changes that may arise under the temporary protection transition scheme (TPTS) will be considered and notified to scheme sponsors in advance of the planned implementation date of the TPTS in March 2027.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.