Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2014
155. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the criteria of eligibility for community employment schemes in order to enable a person who has been unemployed for six months to apply for a scheme. [45988/14]
View answerThere are currently no plans to lower the standard qualifying period in receipt of CE-eligible payments from the current 12 month duration, as Community Employment is primarily aimed at long-term unemployed persons, which is generally defined as one year or more on the Live Register. Persons who claim Jobseekers Benefit from 3rd April 2013 can only claim for a maximum duration of 9 months provided they have 260 or more contributions (or 6 months if less than 260 contributions).
Persons who exhaust their entitlement to Jobseekers Benefit can subsequently apply for Jobseekers Allowance, provided they meet the conditions for receipt of that payment. For the purposes of eligibility for Community Employment, a person can combine time spent in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit with time spent in receipt of another CE-eligible social welfare payment, such as Jobseekers Allowance, providing the cumulative period of receipt makes up a continuous 12-month qualifying period and that the person is still currently in receipt of a qualifying payment immediately prior to commencing CE.
Persons not eligible for other assistance payments due to a partner’s income may, however, be eligible for participation on other programmes, although they may not qualify for payment of an allowance e.g. SOLAS training courses. Such persons are advised to contact their local Intreo/Employment Services Office where a Case Officer will be happy to discuss the employment and training options that are open to them.
