Vol. 455 No. 8
331 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he intends to change the eligibility criteria for community employment schemes to enable people who are unemployed but whose spouses are working to participate in community employment schemes. [12894/95]
Community Employment is the principal manpower intervention aimed at the long term unemployed. It is directed at persons who are either 21 years of age or over and in receipt of Unemployment Assistance or persons of any age who are in receipt of Unemployment Benefit or Lone Parent's Allowance for over one year. In addition, persons registered with the National Rehabilitation Board are eligible to participate.
The Task Force on Long-Term Unemployment is currently reviewing the whole range of employment options for the unemployed, including Community Employment. Any change in the current eligibility criteria for CE to include additional categories will be considered in conjunction with the outcome of this review.
