Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2021
141. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if the workers who were forced onto the pandemic unemployment and are subsequently made redundant will have the length of time on the payment counted towards eligibility for community employment schemes. [35140/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and others with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The focus of CE is on long-term unemployed people, that is people who have been unemployed for more than twelve months.A key qualifying condition for the majority of CE candidates is that a person must first be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum of 12 months.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is an income support introduced as a temporary measure to address the emergency needs of people who lost employment as a direct consequence of COVID-19. It is not a qualifying payment for Community Employment. However, time spent in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment counts towards the duration of unemployment required to be eligible for CE. A person in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will need to qualify for an eligible payment, for example Jobseeker’s Allowance, before they can become eligible for CE. Once eligibility for CE has been confirmed, unemployed persons can apply for a range of CE vacancies accessible within their community which will provide opportunities to avail of the valuable training and work experience available on the CE schemes.
A significant number of recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will return to their previous employment as the COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease. Unfortunately, however, others will not. I am aware of the significant number of persons who have been on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment since March and April 2020, who could benefit from the opportunities provided by CE placements if their previous jobs do not return over the coming period.
I will continue to support and improve the CE programme for the benefit of long-term unemployed participants, including those whose are now long term unemployed arising from Covid-19.
