Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2012
316 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason there is an exclusion from community employment schemes for those EU citizens living here and who are in receipt of disablement benefit from their home country; the training options open to persons in this category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21193/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for participating on the Community Employment (CE) programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments. The core eligibility criterion for CE is that the person is in receipt of a qualifying Irish social welfare payment, as defined on the Department's public website. This requirement is based on Government policy and Departmental guidelines and has been the rule since CE commenced in 1994. Those persons not meeting the eligibility criteria under the Community Employment Part-time Integration or Part-time Job Options, or who are signing for credits, or receiving social welfare benefits from a different country, are not eligible to participate on Community Employment.
The aim of CE remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. The CE programme is one of a range of training and employment programmes available for unemployed persons. All of these programmes have specific objectives and eligibility criteria that address the specific needs of a wide range of participants.
Unemployed persons who are not in receipt of the required social welfare payments can still participate on many education and training programmes. Such persons are advised to contact their local Employment Services Office where an Employment Services Officer will be happy to discuss the employment and training options that are open to them. Within the current very difficult budgetary constraints, the number of places on Community Employment will remain at 23,300 in 2012.
