FÁS training programmes are open to all persons who are unemployed and seeking work. Priority of access is, however, given to persons on the live register, regardless of their gender.
The community employment programme is targeted at a particular severely disadvantaged group of unemployed people, i.e. those registered long-term unemployed whose principal or only source of income is an unemployment compensation payment or certain other social welfare means tested payments. Limited resources, unfortunately, do not make it possible to provide CE for all unemployed people. It is necessary, therefore, to target the programme at those most in need. The eligibility criteria for CE is in my view a fair, objective and cost effective way of achieving that target.
To satisfy the eligibility criteria, persons with children who are in receipt of survivor's contributory pension or deserted wives benefit can apply to transfer to one parent family payment to become eligible to participate in CE. In addition, a married unemployed person who meets the eligibility criteria for CE can transfer that eligibility to his-her spouse, who is not on the live register, for that person to qualify for participation on CE.