Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the spousal swap arrangement for community employment is not permitted in the circumstances when the spouse of an unemployed person has been a qualified adult on their spouse's social welfare payment and is not in receipt of a payment in their own right; the rationale for requiring a qualified adult who wants to take up a community employment scheme to wait for a further year on a payment in their own right before allowing them qualify for such a scheme; if she is satisfied that the eligibility rules are consistent with the promotion of working opportunities for those who want them and that the eligibility rules are adequately integrated with social welfare rules; and her plans to introduce new rules to the scheme in order that people are facilitated to move from welfare to work. [21738/09]

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. The purpose of CE is to help unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market 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.

The current eligibility criteria set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for entry onto the Community Employment programme allows for the combination of periods on different social welfare payments provided they add up to at least 12 consecutive months and the person is currently in receipt of the payment at the time of application. In April 2000 the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced capped limits on the amount of time that a person could participate on CE (3 years total time on CE from 3rd April, 2000 – participation on CE before this date is disregarded). CE capping was introduced to facilitate the movement of participants through the programme, allowing new participants who may not otherwise have such an opportunity, avail of the programme.

To cater for older workers in particular, in November 2004 the standard 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). Subsequently, the participation limit for persons eligible for CE based on a Social Welfare disability linked payment (including those under 55) was increased by 1 year. These measures were introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants and participants with a disability may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.

If a person qualifies under the criteria but does not wish to take up the option themselves, there are certain conditions under which a spousal swap can take place. Eligibility via the Spousal Swap option allows a CE eligible claimant to transfer his or her CE eligibility with his/her spouse, subject to the same participation limits as detailed above. If the main claimant is aged under 55 years, that person would be eligible to a maximum of three years participation on CE. If, having availed of one or two years on CE the main claimant subsequently decides to do a spousal swap, then the qualified adult can only avail of the remainder of the three years, e.g. if the main claimant has one year on CE and swaps eligibility with their spouse, then the spouse can spend two years maximum time on CE. However, a spousal swap is not available if the main claimant has exhausted three years on CE.

If the spouse wishes to become eligible for CE in his/her own right, then they would have to meet the standard eligibility criteria. The qualifying criteria and rules 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. The Department is satisfied that the eligibility rules are consistent with the promotion of working opportunities for those who want them and that the eligibility rules are adequately integrated with social welfare rules.

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. I am keeping the operation of the Scheme under constant review in the context of the current difficult unemployment situation.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason FÁS has taken steps to reduce the budget allowed for community employment scheme participants to a €200 per person reduction in respect of the training budget and €5 per participant per week in respect of material allowance which will make it difficult for community groups to survive and give meaningful direction in participation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21753/09]

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.

In the Supplementary Budget in April I provided an additional 16,525 activation places to be provided by FÁS, including an additional 400 CE places.

As part of making available the funding for the additional activation places FÁS is in the process of adjusting the CE materials and training budgets available for CE projects.