The community employment programme – CE – is a labour market intervention measure targeted at the long-term unemployed. CE is a very popular programme and limited resources do not make it possible to provide places for all unemployed persons. Eligibility is confined to 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. Persons in receipt of a disability payment who obtain approval from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature can also participate in the programme.
On the above basis the person under reference is not eligible for CE. The present eligibility criteria for the programme were drawn up after a full review of CE was undertaken and in consultation with the social partners, and are designed to better target the programme at the most disadvantaged of society.
FÁS, in the context of the current very favourable employment climate, provides a range of training courses aimed at people who wish to acquire new skills or up-date old skills and thereby return to the work force. Details of such training courses are available from the local employment services offices. Eligibility for back to school payments and the schools books scheme is a matter for my colleague, Deputy Ahern, Minister for Social, Community and Family affairs.
Question No. 173 withdrawn.
