Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I realise there have been some changes in respect of people aged 62 years, but I find that once people go over 55 years there is a problem. Anyway, I welcome the change for those aged 62 years.

Another area I wish to touch on relates to a person who became unemployed and who was then in receipt of illness benefit for a period. The person is now keen to do a community employment scheme. A person came to me recently who was told that it would not be possible to go into the community employment scheme because the person was on illness benefit. The person had applied for disability benefit and the doctor had advised that the person should not go back to the type of work that had been done previously. The person may be suitable for light work but cannot get into the community employment scheme. The person was in receipt of social welfare for a period of five years but has been now advised that it will not be possible to get into the community employment scheme because of the requirement to be on jobseeker's allowance for a given period.

That is the information I have received thus far and while I await some further answers on it, the person concerned became extremely frustrated with me on foot of not meeting the qualifying criteria for beginning community employment because he was in receipt of illness benefit, as opposed to jobseeker's allowance. While his doctor now has indicated a return to light work would be appropriate, he is finding that he does not qualify and consideration might be given to this issue. Overall, while it is difficult to make changes, those made in this budget are welcome. The Government must make continuous improvements in this regard and efforts must be made to encourage people back into the workforce at the earliest possible date. In addition, the necessary incentives must continue to be created and obviously, jobs must be created to which people can return and begin earning in the same way as they had previously.