Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2010
90 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she can clarify that in order to qualify for the training aspect of a community employment scheme a participant must give up social welfare entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42523/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme/intervention designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons (including lone parents, recovering drug mis-users and those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful part-time work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis.
CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills by providing opportunities for individual training and development. The Individual Learner Plan (ILP) training is an integral part of the CE placement for all CE participants, providing tailored training based on the individual needs of the participants. There is no link between social welfare payments and training provision on CE.
The continued receipt (or otherwise) of a particular social welfare payment whilst participating on a CE scheme is dependent on the Department of Social Protection rules governing each type of payment.
