Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 October 2011
67 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection the payments which she makes to persons placed on community employment schemes; their entitlements to social welfare benefits while on placement; if she has any plans to reform these payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31732/11]
View answerCommunity employment helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The focus of CE is on developing technical and personal skills to enable a person to return to the open labour market. Persons engaged are provided with work and training placements of 19½ hours duration per week with a not-for-profit community sponsor delivering local services.
The payment rates on community employment (CE) are related to the underlying value of certain social protection payments plus €20 per week. In addition, a participant may be eligible, where appropriate, for payments in respect of any qualified dependant adult and children. In the case of some categories of social protection payments, earnings from CE or from work will be taken into account in determining the value of the social protection payment retained. Secondary benefits are protected during a participant's engagement on CE with individual circumstances taken into account in determining continuing eligibility.
Details for each social protection payment are summarised in the following table. I have indicated that I wish to consider the operation of CE and other employment support initiatives with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of these in progressing people back to work or to further training or education.
|
DSP Qualifying Payment |
CE Single Adult Rate |
Adult Dependant Allowance (maximum) |
Child Allowance (Full Rate) |
Child Allowance (Half Rate) |
Effects of Joining CE |
|
Jobseekers Allowance From 29 December 2010Jobseekers Benefit From 30 December 2010 |
€208.00 |
€124.80 |
€29.80 |
€14.90 |
Secondary benefits retained if gross household income is less than €317.43 per week. Rent or mortgage interest supplement will be paid on a reducing scale for up to 4 years. Medical card retained for 3 years. Fuel allowance payable while on CE. |
|
One Parent Family PaymentDeserted Wife’s AllowanceFrom 6 January 2011 |
€208.00 |
n/a |
€29.80 |
n/a |
OPFP reduces as earnings from employment and CE increase. OPFP may be partially retained in addition to CE allowances. Rent or mortgage interest supplement will be paid on a reducing scale for up to 4 years. Medical card retained for 3 years. Fuel allowance payable while on CE. Child dependant allowances paid by both DSP and FÁS simultaneously. |
|
Deserted Wife’s BenefitFrom 6 January 2011Widow’s/Widower’s Contributory PensionFrom 7 January 2011 |
€208.00 |
n/a |
€29.80 |
n/a |
DWB may be fully or partially retained in addition to CE allowances. Rent or mortgage interest supplement will be paid on a reducing scale for up to 4 years. Medical card retained for 3 years. Fuel allowance payable while on CE. |
|
Disability AllowanceFrom 5 January 2011 |
€208.00 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
A reduced amount of DA may be paid in addition to CE allowances. CE payments are taken into account as means. Other secondary benefits are unaffected. |
|
Blind PensionFrom 7 January 2011 |
€208.00 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
As for Disability Allowance. A visually impaired person who is on Blind Welfare Allowance (means tested) from the HSE may have this allowance affected when going on CE. |
|
Illness BenefitFrom 3 January 2011 |
€208.00 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Illness Benefit retained in addition to the CE payment. Medical card not affected, but secondary benefits (particularly rent allowance) may be affected depending on individual circumstances. |
|
Invalidity PensionFrom 6 January 2011. |
€208.00 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Invalidity Pension payments are retained in addition to CE payment. Medical Card not affected, but other benefits (particularly Rent Allowance) may be affected depending on individual circumstances. |
