Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is a method established within her Department for streamlining representations on applications for exemptions being made on behalf of persons with disabilities in respect of an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7866/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In certain circumstances people who have been in receipt of illness benefit or invalidity pension were granted permission to engage in part-time work of a rehabilitative or therapeutic nature. This permission is known as an exemption. All applicants for an exemption have some form of a disability or medical condition and as such they would be considered on their own merits. Applications for exemptions are generally dealt with on a chronological basis but if a person had an urgent need for a decision the matter would be expedited.

Yesterday I launched a new scheme called partial capacity benefit. The scheme will provide an opportunity for people with medical conditions and assessed and deemed to have an employment capacity which is restricted when compared to the norm to avail of employment opportunities while continuing to receive an income support payment. The introduction of the scheme seeks to respond to weaknesses in the current structure of the welfare system, which categorises people only as 'fit to work' or 'unfit to work'. This does not reflect the reality for many existing welfare customers. The scheme will be open to people who are in receipt of invalidity pension or who have been in receipt of illness benefit for a minimum of six months. Following the introduction of the new scheme exemptions for participation in part-time work will no longer be available. Participation in the partial capacity benefit scheme will be voluntary.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that an existing community employment participant who also receives illness benefit will continue to receive both payments if their CE participation is extended for a third year. [7871/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Existing CE participants who have their contracts renewed after the 16th January 2012 will retain their social welfare payment provided they are continuously employed on CE from that date. This provision is subject to the standard CE participation limits and a final cut-off date for double payments of December 2014. All CE participants will receive a single payment only from that date. ^^ Job Initiative ^^

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the ineligibility of one-parent family recipients for the JobBridge scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7888/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The National Internship Scheme provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors. The scheme is limited to individuals who are currently on the Live Register and have been in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months.

The eligibility to access the National Internship Scheme is based on the overall objective of labour market policy in ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for those on the Live Register. It is important that as employment opportunities become available they are taken up by those on the Live Register. The structure for achieving this objective is through a reinvigorated National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) which currently provides the framework for engaging with the unemployed.

Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, the key objective of labour market policy and of the NEAP will be to keep those on the Live Register close to the Labour Market and prevent the drift into long-term unemployment. This will ensure that Live Register members availing of activation measures such as the National Internship Scheme will, while retaining social welfare unemployment payments and a top up allowance of €50, get an opportunity to engage in the workplace, get work experience and so be in a position to avail of employment opportunities as the economy improves.

For these reasons, it has been proposed as a matter of public policy that eligibility for the scheme be confined to those on the Live Register and in receipt of unemployment payments or signing for credits for 3 of the last 6 months. As such, the policy objective is to prioritise scarce resources on those on the Live Register so as to increase their chances of leaving it thereby ensuring a reduction in Exchequer costs over time.

My Department continues to monitor and review the operation of the JobBridge scheme including its eligibility criteria on an ongoing basis. The extension of JobBridge to those in receipt of One Parent Family Payments forms part of this broader review process. Individuals in receipt of a One Parent Family Payment may access a wide range of activation supports including the Work Placement Programme, which is designed to provide participants with valuable work experience, thereby improving their prospects of securing employment.