Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 6

Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Community Employment Development Programme.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

24 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will ensure that persons employed on the Community Enterprise Development Programmes will not lose any secondary benefits to which they would have been entitled had they remained on the live register, specifically the Christmas bonus and the free fuel allowance; and if he will have the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 reviewed.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The Community Employment Development Programme, (CEDP), is a scheme administered by the Department of Enterprise and Employment under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. It provides part-time work for long term unemployed people in noncommercial socially desirable projects which are sponsored by local authorities, community groups and others. Participants receive a basic allowance and are allowed to retain any existing extra benefits which were payable while on the live register.

My Department's definition of long term unemployment requires attendance on the live register for 15 months or more. After this period the unemployed person becomes eligible for the Christmas bonus and the fuel allowance.

Originally, participation in the CEDP required that the person be unemployed for at least 12 months. Last July the Department of Enterprise and Employment reduced the minimum duration to 6 months. Those who are short term unemployed and who avail of this arrangement are not eligible for the Christmas bonus or fuel allowance as they had not established an underlying entitlement to these payments while on the live register.

I am having research conducted into the position of those who, had they remained on the live register, would otherwise have qualified for extra benefits to establish what wider implications the extension of the extra benefits facility would create.