Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2012
141 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider making all participants in the CERRS, Tús and CSB schemes the same as social welfare recipients and classify them as such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8511/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection operates a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients of working age to reduce their dependency on welfare payments. I understand that the Deputy is interested in the position relating to entitlement to secondary benefits.
Participants on the RSS, Tús and CE are entitled to continue to receive any secondary benefits to which they were previously entitled prior to their commencement on any of the above schemes. Entitlement to secondary benefits is subject to the usual assessment processes operated by the appropriate scheme area of the Department of Social Protection or relevant Authority. Participants are required to meet the terms and conditions attached to the secondary benefits, as set out in order to continue to qualify for any such payments.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for medical cards and entitlement is dependent on personal circumstances. Applicants (for the above schemes) in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for a period of 12 months or more are entitled to retain their medical card for three years on taking up a place on the schemes from the date on which the placement commenced.
While participants on the RSS, Tús and CE are encouraged to engage in part-time work outside the time spent working on the respective scheme, they are advised to check this and any secondary benefits which are being claimed with their local Social Welfare Office, Health Service Executive and/or Local Authority to see if benefits are affected (for example, lone parents, rent allowance, medical card).
Individuals participating on the Community Services Programme (CSP) are treated as employees and it is up to their employer companies to determine their final salary levels. However, any spouse of a CSP participant is free to receive his/her own DSP payment, should the circumstances warrant it.
