The jobs initiative scheme is full time and open to anyone over the age of 35 years who has been unemployed for more than five years. Participants are paid €298.40 per week. The community employment scheme is part time and open to anyone over 25 years who has been unemployed for more than a year. Participants receive €149.20 per week, plus allowances for dependants. The cost of running the scheme is approximately €25 per person more than the provision of social welfare. Widely regarded as having been enormously successful, the schemes have directed thousands of people, some of whom would have been regarded as unemployable, back into the workforce. They generally operate in non-profit operations that provide community services, such as home helps, meals on wheels, child care and environmental and heritage programmes.