Vol. 509 No. 3
133 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the actions, if any, he will take to remove a major anomaly where participants in the community employment schemes find that they are refused a Christmas bonus and a fuel allowance when the scheme ends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20229/99]
Following on the extension of class A PRSI to community employment – CE – workers in 1996, CE workers are treated in the same way as other employees covered by class A in so far as social insurance entitlements are concerned.
CE workers who return to the live register after completing a period on a CE scheme may therefore, by virtue of having paid class A PRSI contributions, qualify or re-qualify for unemployment benefit rather than reverting to the means-tested long-term unemployment assistance. As a consequence, they are not entitled to the social welfare secondary benefits which are payable only with long-term welfare payments.
This issue arises as a direct consequence of the extension of class A PRSI to community employment workers, which was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1996. The purpose of this measure was to enhance the PRSI status of community employment workers and to put them on a par with other class A workers in so far as social insurance entitlements are concerned.
In the case of persons who qualify or re-qualify for unemployment benefit their earnings in the relevant tax year will determine whether or not they receive a graduated rate or the full rate of unemployment benefit. Persons entitled to a reduced or graduated rate of unemployment benefit are entitled to claim unemployment assistance if it is more beneficial to them. However, long-term unemployment assistance is not payable where the claimant is entitled to full rate unemployment benefit.
I have explained to the House on many occasions that I am not in a position to introduce special concessionary arrangements for CE workers who qualify for unemployment benefit without having equal regard to the position of other short-term social welfare payment recipients. Any such concessions could only be considered in light of available resources and in the light of other priorities.
