Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 1997

Vol. 474 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Community Employment Schemes.

Mr. Kirk

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment. It concerns the changes that came into effect since the introduction of the one parent family arrangement on 1 or 2 January last. Those in receipt of deserted wife's benefit who applied to participate in a community employment scheme are obliged by the new regulations to change from deserted wife's benefit to the one parent family payment. Under the present arrangement it is possible for a recipient of deserted wife's benefit to earn up to £10,000 and still retain entitlement to the full payment. Under the one parent family arrangement the amount of payment is considerably reduced and when payment ceases in respect of dependent children the income position of the recipient deteriorates rapidly.

The amount received in respect of the one parent family payment by such recipients, who are in receipt of income under the community employment scheme, is considerably less than the amount they would normally receive in respect of deserted wife's benefit. Will the Minister of State elaborate on the difficulties faced by such recipients? There seems to be an anomaly when someone on deserted wife's benefit can earn up to the substantial amount of £10,000 and retain the benefit when someone on a CE scheme has to change to OPFP.

Ms E. Fitzgerald

Community Employment or CE is designed primarily to prevent marginalisation among long-term unemployed people whose principal or only source of income is a social welfare payment. Its objective is to provide temporary work experience opportunities together with some training that would enhance the employment prospects of those at whom the programme is targeted.

Under the CE programme, public sector and voluntary organisations are grant-aided by FÁS in respect of sponsoring a CE project and they in turn benefit in a secondary way by being able to carry out worthwhile work which they could not otherwise undertake. Suitable projects would be those that can be shown to respond to a clearly identified community need and which also develop the work skills of participants, thereby enhancing their prospect of mainstream employment.

As limited resources do not make it possible to provide CE for all long-term unemployed people, it is necessary to target the programme at those most in need, such as persons in receipt of an unemployment compensation payment or persons in receipt of certain means tested social welfare payments. In line with this, both men and women, married or single, who fulfil any of the following eligibility criteria can participate on CE. The part-time integration option is one year and is for: those over 21 years and on unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance for at least 12 months; those over 21 years and on one parent family payment or OPFP for more than 12 months; and special categories such as those referred by the NRB, travellers on the live register or on OPFP for at least 12 months.

The part-time job option is a three-year option. It is for those over 35 years and in receipt of unemployment assistance or unemployment benefit for more than three years; those over 35 years and on OPFP for more than three years; and special categories such as those referred by the NRB who are over 35 years, travellers who are over 35 years and either on the live register or on OPFP for at least 12 months.

Persons with children who are in receipt of deserted wife's benefit or survivor's contributory pension can apply to transfer to OPFP and if awarded this, they would then be eligible to participate in CE. In addition, married unemployed people can swap their social welfare entitlement to qualify for participation on the programme.

The present eligibility criteria for CE came into effect last year following a detailed review of the programme and in response to the recommendation of the task force on long-term unemployment. It is designed to better target the programme at the most disadvantaged of the long-term unemployed so that they may share in the benefits of economic growth along with other sectors of society.

Given that the programme is currently operating slightly above capacity level relative to available resources, any decision to widen the eligibility criteria to include additional categories would be at the expense of those priority groups for whom CE is designed. Accordingly, the Minister has no plans to widen the eligibility criteria.