Vol. 460 No. 4
79 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason time spent on community employment schemes is not included when eligibility for the Christmas bonus for people in receipt of unemployment assistance is being determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1536/96]
Under the legislation, periods spent on community employment are disregarded in deciding a break in a claim to an unemployment payment. The purpose of this arrangement is to ensure that community employment workers will not experience any interruption in his or her payment from my Department if it is found necessary to return to the live register after the community employment ceases.
In effect, community employment is regarded as employment and this will be reinforced from April when community employment workers will have full Class A PRSI status which will give full social insurance cover.
