Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
332. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider broadening the qualifying requirements for community employment schemes and internships to include persons who are working on reduced hours and not in receipt of a social welfare payment (details supplied). [50884/12]
View answerThe criteria for participating on Community Employment (CE) are based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments. The core eligibility criterion for CE is that the person is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment such as jobseekers allowance, jobseekers benefit, one parent family payment for a specified amount of time, generally 12 months. Persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked social welfare payment are also eligible if they are currently in receipt of their payment (at least 6 months for illness benefit).
CE is an active labour market programme aimed at persons who are not considered ready for entry to employment, with the programme emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education/training. Thus, CE is not generally available to persons who are already in employment. There is a limit of 30 worked days in the 12 months qualifying period for jobseeker clients wishing to apply for CE under the one-year version of CE, or 30 worked days in each of the three years for jobseeker clients wishing to apply for CE under the three-year version of CE.
The CE programme is one of a range of training and employment programmes available for unemployed persons. All of these programmes have specific objectives and eligibility criteria that address the specific needs of a wide range of jobseekers.
In the circumstances, the person concerned should contact their local Employment Services Office where the employment and training options that are available to her can be outlined.
