Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding a query in relation to eligibility to participate in a community employment scheme (details supplied). [23785/09]

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. Persons in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit can normally apply for Jobseeker's Allowance when their contribution-based payment is exhausted. This would maintain the continuity to make up the 12-month eligibility period.