Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 115: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals to change the rules in order that persons who qualify for jobseeker's benefit but do not subsequently qualify for jobseeker's allowance are not precluded from taking part in social employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41762/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, 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. The eligibility criteria is scheduled to be reviewed to see how it reflects the current unemployment situation and how it benefits those clients who would be best served by participating in CE.