Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2011
101 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the qualifying criteria for community employment and Tús schemes to allow those signing for credits and not receiving a jobseeker’s or other payment to be eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28086/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of Tús is to focus on those people who are long-term unemployed. For this reason, eligibility is at present confined to those on the Live Register for 12 months and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. These provisions are to ensure a targeted approach to those currently affected by long-term unemployment.
Eligible persons are being identified by the Department of Social Protection by applying the following conditions:
A person must be unemployed and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for at least 12 months, and
Currently be in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, and
Be fully unemployed.
The criteria for participating on the community employment (CE) programme are similarly based on age and length of time in receipt of specified social welfare payments.
Persons signing for credits are not eligible for participation on Tús or CE. They do, however, have access to the National Internship Scheme subject to meeting the criteria for the scheme.
102 Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any flexibility for local deciding officers regarding the length of time for which applicants must be receiving qualifying payments when making decisions on eligibility for community employment, Tús, JobBridge and other work placement and employment training schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28087/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the various work placement and employment training schemes is the provision of quality work and training opportunities for those who are unemployed in order to assist them in updating their skills and to improve their opportunities in the labour market.
The eligibility criteria for the various schemes have been specifically constructed so as to ensure a targeted approach to those currently affected by unemployment. Deciding Officers have prescribed powers within social welfare legislation that relate to entitlement to certain statutory social welfare schemes and would not have a function in relation to determining eligibility criteria for the schemes referred to in the question.
