I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together.
All participants on the job initiative programme are not automatically entitled to secondary benefits, which include the Christmas bonus payment. In general, participants on JI may retain any secondary benefits they had prior to participating on the programme subject to the usual retention arrangements for secondary benefits.
The eligible categories for Christmas bonus payments under the JI are former recipients of long-term unemployment assistance, former recipients of unemployment benefit, and former recipients of one parent family payment whose entitlement to this payment ceased by virtue of their qualifying child or children reaching 18 years of age in the course of participation on JI.
Payment of the Christmas 2000 bonus payment, which was administered by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, was calculated by reference to the JI participants' previous social welfare entitlement, based on 100% of that entitlement paid at the current rate. Lone parents on JI who are in receipt of the one parent family payment received their Christmas bonus payment under this scheme.
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has confirmed that arrangements are being made to have any outstanding payments made to remaining eligible participants.
The terms of employment on community employment including the number of hours worked per week, allowances, and eligibility criteria are different to those obtaining on JI. It is not appropriate, therefore, to compare the two programmes in regard to eligibility for Christmas bonus payments.
