Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2014
11. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that community employment schemes are now means tested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46999/14]
View answerThere has been no change made to the entry requirements for Community Employment. The criteria for participating on CE are based on age and length of time in receipt of various qualifying social welfare payments. The general conditions are that an applicant needs to be in receipt of a relevant welfare payment for a minimum period of 1 year. The qualifying social welfare payments include jobseeker’s allowance, one parent family payment, widow’s/widower’s/surviving civil partners contributory and non-contributory pension, deserted wife's benefit and farm assist.
The qualifying period is waived for Drug Rehabilitation clients where a separate referral process applies whereby medical practitioners and other agents can make the referral.
Once the entry qualifying criteria are satisfied, all Community Employment (CE) participants are guaranteed a minimum payment of €208 per week, regardless of means. Accordingly, if the weekly rate of the social welfare payment received by the participant was less than or equal to €188, the applicable CE allowance is €208 (including an increase of €20 per week).
If the welfare payment was more than €188, the applicable rate of allowance is the rate of the qualifying payment which was payable before commencement of CE plus €20 per week.
The welfare rate of payment such as jobseeker’s allowance for example is determined by calculating the participant’s maximum entitlement, that is, the personal rate, and the adult dependent and child dependent rates, if applicable. Household means are then deducted. If there are no household means, then the maximum applicable rate applies.
As CE placements last for at least one year, a change in family circumstances may occur during the placement (change in the number of dependants/change in household income, etc.). Participants are obliged to inform the Department of any such change that would affect the underlying entitlement rate payable (up or down).
