Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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301. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons over the age of 55 years can take part in a community employment scheme for up to six years. [16431/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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With effect from 3^rdApril 2000, cumulative lifetime participation on Community Employment (CE) by an individual will be limited to:

- 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age.

- 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to State Pension age.

Participation on CE prior to 3^rdApril 2000 is not counted. This means that a CE-eligible person of 55 or over who had not participated on CE prior to their 55^thbirthday could potentially participate on CE up to the cumulative maximum of 6 years.

The pattern of participation would be dependent on whether they qualified for the part time integration option of CE (PTI), which is for one year’s duration, or if the person qualified for the part-time job option of CE (PTJ) which is generally for three consecutive years’ duration, subject to annually renewable contracts. After completing a year under the PTI option, the person must leave the CE scheme and requalify for further CE participation by being in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment for 12 months or more. After completing three consecutive years under the PTJ option, the person must also leave the CE scheme and requalify for further participation by being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for at least 12 months or more. This would then place the person under the PTI category, i.e. one year’s CE participation at a time. Alternatively, if the person re-qualified for CE by being in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment for 3 continuous years or more they could return to CE for 3 consecutive years under the PTJ option again.

If a person has already participated on CE when they were under 55, they can only avail of the balance of the CE time up to the cumulative maximum of 6 years’ participation once they reach the age of 55.