Following a restructuring of community employment – CE – during 1999, the eligibility age for participation in the programme was raised from 21 years to 25 years with effect from 1 January 2000. The following categories of persons were exempted from this change: travellers; ex-offenders; refugees; people with disabilities; people referred under drugs task force; off-shore island inhabitants and 18-24 year olds, referred through EAP, who are 18 months or more unemployed. There was no change to the period of unemployment necessary for eligibility for participation in the CE programme, that is, 12 months for the part-time integration option and three years for the part-time job option-rate for the job option.
The age criterion was increased in order to better target available places on CE at older long-term unemployed persons and in line with a recommendation of the Deloitte & Touche consultants' review of CE. The impact of the phased reduction in the participation levels on CE on the provision of community services will be considered by a special working group to be established shortly. The findings of this group, which will comprise representatives of the relevant Departments and the social partners, will be considered by Government.