Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2013
437. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of the additional places she allocated for community employment that have been taken; and the number of vacancies on CE in the Dublin area due to the change in rules regarding eligibility. [31520/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of additional places allocated to date in the Dublin area is currently 191 as at the 20th June 2013. These places are added to the general Community Employment (CE) allocation for each Division of the Department (3 in Dublin) and are not reported on separately, so it isn’t possible to determine the number of these additional places filled at this stage.
Nationally, the total number of CE places approved for 2013 is 23,500 of which 22,624 (incl supervisors) participants are in place as at May 2013. In December 2012 the number of participants was 22,445 (incl supervisors). Additional places are allocated throughout the year and the process will be completed by December, 2013.
There have been no changes in the rules regarding eligibility for CE, other than the recent broadening of the rules to include time spent on Supplementary Welfare Allowance being counted towards the CE-qualifying period, provided the person is currently in receipt of one of the specified eligible payments at the time of application to CE. The current number of CE places in the Dublin area which remain unfilled is 274 places, of these, 251 are awaiting Garda vetting returns. The policy of the DSP has always been that anyone who comes into contact with children or vulnerable adults through their work on Community Employment must be Garda Vetted. This is in-line with international best practice.
