Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2015

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

Questions (50)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

50. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the term limits for participants in the community employment schemes who are near 65 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29364/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Community Employment (CE) has an upper age limit for funding of a participant. This is set at the State Pension age (66 years of age at present). No funding will be made available under CE for those participants who qualify for the State Pension. This has been the case on CE since the programme commenced in April 1994.

There are also limits on the maximum duration of participation. For a participant of 55 years of age or older, their maximum cumulative duration is 6 years (inclusive of any time spent on CE when they were younger than 55). However, should they reach State Pension age before completing the cumulative maximum allowable duration, the funding will cease at that point.