Following the publication of my Department’s Report - An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme – earlier this year,
the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions around participation on Community Employment (CE). The main purpose of these changes was to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register, to standardise eligibility and other conditions regarding the length of time a person can participate on the programme and to promote progression outcomes.
These changes, implemented last July, include a reduction in the general qualifying age for CE for those on the live register, from 25 to 21 years and it will now be easier for previous participants to re-enter a scheme as the base line year is being moved from 2000 to 2007. CE participants age 55 and over can avail of up to 3 consecutive years on a scheme, after only one year in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment. The lifetime participation limit on CE of 6 years (7 years if in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked payment) remains unchanged.
In addition a review of the current rule, which enables a percentage of those aged 62 or over, to participate on a continuous basis up to the State Pension age, is currently underway and is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.