Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 5

Written Answers. - Community Employment Schemes.

Bernard Allen

Question:

113 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the criteria for people wishing to go on community employment schemes; the changes proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8033/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

Following a restructuring of community employment during 1999, the following eligibility criteria apply to persons who wish to participate in the options available under the programme. The part-time integration option is aimed at persons who are unemployed and in receipt of a payment in respect of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, qualified adults, one parent family payment or widows/widowers pension for a minimum period of 12 months. The eligibility age for participation in CE was raised from 21 years to 25 years on 1 January 2000 with the following exceptions: travellers, ex-offenders, refugees, people with disabilities, people referred under drugs task force, offshore island inhabitants, and 18 to 24 year olds, referred through EAP, who are 18 months or more unemployed. Persons with disabilities registered with and referred by the NRB are eligible and travellers of any age and in receipt of UA or UB for any period or lone parents allowance for one year or longer qualify. Participants remain on this programme for a period of one year. A limited number of people can remain for a second year in circumstances where it will facilitate their progression to employment.

The part-time job option/rate for the job is targeted at persons who need a longer programme in order to become job ready. Participants must be 35 or over and three years unemployed and in receipt of the payments stated previously. The participant can remain on this option for a period up to three years. There is no age requirement for travellers. They must be in receipt of an unemployment payment for one year or longer to participate in this option. Persons 35 or over with disabilities registered with and referred by the NRB are eligible.

Other changes to the programme which are part of the restructuring process and are currently being phased in include: duration of participant breaks between schemes will be increased from six to 12 months, and future participation in CE by an individual will be capped at three years. An individual's previous participation on the programme will not be taken into account. These changes take effect from April 2000. Offshore island residents are exempt from these changes.

My Department will continue to implement the phased reduction in the participation levels on CE, which has a target participation rate of 28,000 by the end of 2003. There will be synchronisation to the greatest degree possible between the introduction of the new social economy programme and reductions of CE places.

In addition, the new Programme for Prosperity and Fairness makes specific provision for the establishment of a special working group, comprising the social partners and representatives of Departments to: identify the key essential services currently being provided through CE and assess the implications of those services for CE in terms of budget, number of places, having regard to the planned reduction of 4,500 places, as per the Government decision, and the objectives of CE, including the provision of community services. The findings of the special working group will be considered by Government.