Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 November 2014
50. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied); if she will take steps to ensure that the age eligibility concession will be extended to all schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43423/14]
View answerThere has been significant demand to reduce the age eligibility to 21 years on Community Employment (CE) in the past three years, particularly since the cessation of double allowances which had the effect of reducing the number of participants on the One Parent Family Payment (OFP) and, in particular, the number of participants taking up childcare places on CE.
I am acutely aware of the need to accommodate long-term unemployed youth who need special supports to access training and work placements. In the circumstances, one childcare project in the Midlands North Division has been approved to allow limited access to their CE Childcare Programme for applicants 21 years of age or over. Twenty per cent of vacancies will be for applicants in this age group. This has been approved on a trial basis only and will be closely monitored by the Department. This programme necessitates the CE participant engaging in a FETAC Major Award and undertaking study in their own time, so it is demanding and requires commitment and dedication from the participant.
A final decision will be made on age eligibility across the CE scheme generally in due course.
