Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 200: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the secondary welfare benefits to which participants in community employment schemes are entitled; if she has plans to change the scheme as promised by the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30830/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills.

I am informed by my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, that depending on their circumstances, people who are participating on Community Employment Schemes may be entitled to the following additional payments (known as secondary benefits) which are provided by a number of different agencies:

the national and smokeless fuel schemes, rent and mortgage supplements under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, back to school clothing and footwear allowance from the Department of Social and Family Affairs);

the medical card (from the Health Services Executive); and

the local authority differential rent scheme (from the local authorities).

In conclusion then, I would say that this Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. In this regard, we are keeping the operation of the Scheme under constant review.