Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2018
612. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of years or length of time participants can spend on community employment, the rural social scheme, Tús and JobPath; the length of time a person has to wait before he or she can reapply for the same scheme; and if the Minister will make a statement on the matter. [14169/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication in April 2017 of my Department’s report entitled ‘An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme’, the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions around participation on Community Employment (CE). The main purpose of these changes was to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.
The changes for those on the live register see the general qualifying age for CE reduced from 25 to 21 years and are effective from 3rd July 2017. It will also be easier for previous participants who have exhausted their CE entitlement to requalify as participation prior to the year 2007 will be disregarded. While participants between 21 and 55 years can avail of one year on the programme, this can be extended on approval by the Department by up to 2 more years, if they are working towards a major award/industry recognised equivalent to support their progression to employment. CE participants aged 55 and over can now avail of up to 3 consecutive years on a scheme. An overall lifetime limit of 6 years will apply to CE participants (7 years if on a disability payment). A person may re-qualify for CE after 12 months of being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, provided they have not reached their 6 year limit. All CE places are now categorised into one of two strands, either activation, with a target progression of 50%, or social inclusion, with a target progression of 20%.
The rural social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen/women who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen and participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills, while performing this valuable work in their local communities
Since 1st February 2017, all participants commencing on the RSS have to be over 25 years of age and a 6 year overall participation limit on the work scheme also applies. This new measure ensures that places become available to provide opportunities for other farmers and fishermen to take part in the scheme. RSS participants who commenced on the scheme prior to 1st February 2017 will remain on the scheme, as long as they continue to remain eligible for the scheme. To be eligible to participate on the RSS, an individual must satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme. This includes having an entitlement to one of the qualifying social welfare payments and maintaining an underlying entitlement to Farm/Fish Assist.
Tús provides part-time temporary work in the communities, as a stepping stone back to employment for people on a long term jobseeker’s payment. Tús participants work for an average of 19½ hours a week and placements last for maximum of 12 months. The twelve month duration of the Tús contract is set to reflect a number of inter-related elements. These include the need to ensure the benefit of participation on a work scheme is available to the widest possible number of jobseekers . After three years, a person can become eligible for a further 12 month placement on Tús.
JobPath providers arrange for the delivery of a broad range of education and training courses with a particular strong focus on upskilling the long term unemployed. In order to support JobPath providers to refer people to training and education, the Department will extend the initial 12 month JobPath referral period by the duration of any externally delivered approved training course. This can be up to an additional 26 weeks. The JobPath companies remain in contact with the clients while they are on such courses.
Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support over a period of up to 12 months to help them tackle barriers to employment and to find jobs. If they are successful in securing employment the JobPath provider will continue to work with the client providing in-work support for a further period of up to 12 months.
A person who has completed a year with the JobPath service; continues to meet the criteria for long term unemployment and is not engaged in other activation supports and services becomes eligible for selection for a second period of activation with the JobPath service after a period of 4 to 6 months.
