Gerry Reynolds
Ceist:100 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason access to the social economy scheme is denied to women not on the live register. [15866/01]
Written Answers. - Social Economy Programme.
Eligible categories of persons, including both women and men, for the social economy programme are much wider than those on the live register. The full listing of categories of persons eligible for the social economy programme is outlined as follows. There is also a 10% exemption limit for other disadvantaged persons who do not meet the normal eligibility criteria, including women in low income welfare dependent households. This exemption may be applied to the total number of grant-aided persons employed across social economy enterprises.
Eligible grant-aided employees are: unemployed persons over 35 years of age in receipt of unemployment benefit, unemployment assistance or one parent family payment for at least three years; persons in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension or blind persons pension, and persons in receipt of disability benefit for six months or more who obtain approval from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature; a Traveller, of any age in receipt of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance or one parent family payment for one year or more. In the case of travellers under 18 years of age, a minimum of 12 months spent in a Travellers' training centre will suffice for eligibility; qualified adults – adult dependants – over 35 years of age of long-term unemployed persons and persons over 35 years in receipt of a widows-widowers contributory and non-contributory pension, carer's allowance, deserted wives benefit, subject to application of a qualifying period for eligibility as with unemployed persons and lone parents.
Note (1) Time spent on community employment or job initiative and/or recognised training course will count towards eligibility.
Note (2) Time spent in prison will count as part of the eligibility period. Ex-offenders need not be signing on the Live Register at time of recruitment.
Note (3) Casual workdays of up to 90 days in the previous three years will be allowed.
Grant supported employment in a social economy enterprise may be full or part-time but employees must meet the criteria as outlined above, apart from the 10% exemption facility.