Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2019

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Ceisteanna (1298)

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

1298. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) on a community employment scheme who will exhaust his or her six-year entitlement on that scheme in 2019 can leave the community employment system when he or she exhausts those six years, sign on and subsequently find a place on a new community employment scheme under the service support stream; if he or she will have to find a place under the service support stream before exhausting his or her six-year entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13692/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Under the Service Support Stream (SSS) participants aged 62 years and over who meet the Community Employment (CE) eligibility requirements may remain continuously on CE up to the State Pension age. The places available under this stream are subject to limitation.

In the case referred to by the Deputy, I understand the person has left her current CE placement due to ill health. She is however eligible to participate on CE for a further 30 weeks and will be transferring to a new CE scheme on 1 April 2019 to complete this term. Once she commences on the new scheme, it is open to her to apply for a place under the SSS.