Written answers

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Community Employment Schemes

10:00 pm

Photo of Joanna TuffyJoanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 139: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of places nationwide on community employment schemes or social employment schemes available in each of the years 1990, 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2007 in tabular form; the eligibility criteria for such schemes now; the eligibility criteria for such schemes in the previous years; the type of schemes that were allowed then and now; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43017/08]

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, 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 (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. The eligibility criteria and participation limits for CE are set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). The qualifying criteria for participation are intended to facilitate the movement of participants through CE, allowing new participants who may not otherwise have such an opportunity, to avail of the programme.

CE Eligibility

Explanatory notes: CE has two basic options, Part-time Integration Option, which is a one-year version of CE for long-term unemployed (12 months or more). The other option is Part-time Job Option, which is for longer term unemployed persons (3 years or more) and runs for one-year with the option for up to two more years on annually renewable contracts).

Part-time Integration Option (1 year on CE)

If you are aged 25 years or over and are currently in receipt of any of the following payments for 12 months or more:

Jobseekers Benefit (JB, formerly Unemployment Benefit);

Jobseekers Allowance (JA, formerly Unemployment Assistance);

One Parent Family Payment (OPFP);

Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension;

Widows/Widowers Non-Contributory Pension;

Deserted Wife's Benefit (DWB);

Farm Assist (FA).

Time spent in receipt of Carer's Allowance can also count towards the 12-month eligibility period, but caring responsibilities must have ceased and the person must currently be in receipt of either JA, JB or OPFP

If you are aged 18 years or over and are currently in receipt of any of the following payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA)

Disability Allowance;

Blind Pension;

Invalidity Pension (Note: you must have approval from the DSFA to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature);

Illness Benefit for 6 months or more (Note: you must have approval from the DSFA to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature).

Travellers aged 18 years or over, who are unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance for any period or One Parent Family Payment for 1 year or longer. In the case of travellers under 18 years of age, a minimum of 12 months spent in a Travellers Training Centre is enough for eligibility.

All refugees aged 18 years or over, as authenticated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in receipt of payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Persons aged 18 years or over inhabiting the offshore islands

Ex-offenders aged 18 years or over and referred by the Probation Service. Also, Ex-offenders aged 18 and over and not referred by the Probation Service and in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit for a period of one year or more. Time spent as a prisoner is regarded as reckonable when considering duration unemployed

Persons aged 18 years or over referred by the Drugs Task Force.

Time spent on recognised training or employment programmes (such as a FÁS training course) can also be counted towards eligibility.

Note:

Breaks off the Live Register up to a maximum of 30 days in each of the 3 qualifying years prior to application are allowed in assessing eligibility for the Job Option. Time spent on Community Employment, a recognised training course or in prison may count as part of the qualifying period. In the case of Travellers under 18 years of age, a minimum of 12 months spent in a Travellers' Training centre will suffice for eligibility.

Spousal Swap

If you are unemployed and qualify under the Jobseekers Assistance, Jobseekers Benefit or Farm Assist criteria detailed above but you yourself do not wish to join the Community Employment programme, you may be able to transfer eligibility to your spouse. Qualified Adult Dependents, aged 25 and over, of eligible persons (as defined by the Department of Social and Family Affairs) may avail of the Spousal Swap option. This involves the person and their dependent exchanging places, the dependent inheriting the age/entitlements of the person, and ensuring that no losses are incurred in their relative entitlements as a result of this exchange. Part-time Job Option (Up to 3 years on CE) The Part-time Job Option is for people who are 35 or over and out of work for 3 years or longer. Eligible persons of 55 to 65 years of age can spend up to 6 years in total on this programme. Persons in receipt of a disability-linked social welfare payment can avail of one extra year on CE (i.e. 4 years under 55, 7 years for 55 and over). You can qualify for this option if you are:

Aged 35 years or over and are currently in receipt of any of the following payments for 3 years or more:

Jobseekers Benefit (JB, formerly Unemployment Benefit);

Jobseekers Allowance (JA, formerly Unemployment Assistance);

One Parent Family Payment (OPFP);

Widows/Widowers Contributory Pension;

Widows/Widowers Non-Contributory Pension;

Deserted Wife's Benefit (DWB);

Farm Assist (FA).

Time spent in receipt of Carer's Allowance can also count towards the 3-year eligibility period, but caring responsibilities must have ceased and the person must currently be in receipt of either JA, JB or OPFP

Aged 35 years or over and in receipt of any of the following payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA):

Disability Allowance;

Blind Pension;

Invalidity Pension (Note: you must have approval from the DSFA to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature);

Illness Benefit for 6 months or more (Note: you must have approval from the DSFA to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature).

Ex-offenders aged 35 years or over referred by the Probation Service. Also, Ex-offenders aged 35 and over not referred by the Probation Service and in receipt of Jobseekers Assistance or Jobseekers Benefit for 3 years or more. Time spent as a prisoner is regarded as reckonable when considering duration unemployed.

Travellers aged 18 years or over, who are unemployed and in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance or One Parent Family Payment for 1 year or longer. In the case of travellers under 18 years of age, a minimum of 12 months spent in a Travellers Training Centre is enough for eligibility

All refugees aged 18 years or over, as authenticated by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in receipt of payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs

Persons aged 18 years or over inhabiting the offshore islands

Persons aged 18 years or over referred by the Drugs Task Force

Time spent on recognised training or employment programmes (such as a FÁS training course) can also be counted towards eligibility.

Changes to Community Employment

The Community Employment programme (CE) was restructured in 1999 to limit participation by new participants to 3 years, with effect from April, 2000. This change was introduced to encourage unemployed persons to progress to training or education and employment options where possible. However, this three-year cap was amended in August 2001 to allow particularly disadvantaged persons to remain on the programme for a further period. In general, approximately 20% of participants, including persons less than 55 years of age, have benefited from an additional year on the programme under the flexibility guidelines introduced in August 2001.

In November 2004 to cater for older workers the 3-year CE cap was revised to allow those of 55 years of age and over to avail of a 6-year period on CE (based on participation since 3rd April 2000). This was introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.

In July 2006 my Department published its Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act, 2005. One of the key highlights of this Plan is to increase participation rates of people with disabilities on CE over the period of the Plan. In order to provide additional training to assist progression to employment:

For people with disabilities under 55 years of age, the participation limit has been raised by one year from 3 to 4 years, and

For people with disabilities over 55 years of age, the participation limit has also been raised by one year from 6 to 7 years.

Job Initiative

This programme has been closed for recruitment since November 2004. Persons over 35 years of age, unemployed and in receipt of Unemployment Assistance/Unemployment Benefit or those on Lone Parents allowance for at least 5 years are eligible. The information requested by the Deputy in relation the number of places nationwide on Community Employment Schemes and Social Employment Schemes in each of the years 1990, 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2007 is as follows.

Year End Statistics for FÁS Employment Programmes
Year EndSocial Employment SchemeEmployment Incentive SchemeTeamworkEnterpriseCommunity Enterprise ProgrammeCommunity Employment (including Supervisors)Job Initiative*Social Economy
199011,8521,5227581,173141
199514840,304
19979139,039960
200224,9912,5251,889
200722,9921,553
*Social Economy Programme transferred to Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 1 January 2006 and was renamed Community Services Programme.

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