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Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Questions (507, 508)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

507. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide an update on the options for employment schemes open to persons with a disability and on a disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5955/13]

View answer

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

508. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person that has completed a community employment scheme will be eligible to apply for one of the new social employment scheme places; the way a person applied for one of these places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5956/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 507 and 508 together.

The community employment programme, the work placement programme and JobBridge, the national internship scheme provide the best options for a person with a disability and on a disability allowance payment to engage in work placement and training activity. Eligibility condition in respect of both initiatives can be accessed online or by making enquiries at the network of Social Protection offices nationally. The Deputy may wish to note that a person who has completed four years on community employment will have exhausted their participation opportunities until they reach the age of 55.

Eligibility on Tús, the community work placement initiative, is confined to those on the live register. Persons with a disability are defined as one of the target group under the community services programme. However, the Deputy should note that the Department has no roles in the recruitment functions for organisations in receipt of a contract under this programme other than providing guidance.

A number of practical supports and allowances are available to employers to proactively assist the participation of people with a disability in the workforce. Funding can be provided to employers who wish to retain an employee who has acquired an impairment or illness and to employ a person with a disability. The Department also funds the EmployAbility service nationwide, which is designed to enable jobseekers with a disability to secure open labour market employment with the assistance of tailored individual supports provided by job coaches. Details are available on my Department’s website – www.welfare.ie.

The focus of the new initiative which my Department plans with local authorities and which was announced in the recent Budget will focus on those on the live register for a significant time without engagement in training, education or work. It is unlikely to provide for persons with a disability given other opportunities open to that cohort. Development work on this new initiative is advancing with the aim of launching a number of pilot schemes to be commenced in the coming weeks to inform the design process.

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