John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 280: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a community employment scheme placement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny [23734/12]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 283: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be allowed to complete their time on the community employment scheme placement they were granted in view of the fact that it was a Departmental error relative to their qualification for the scheme; and if she will acknowledge the expectation created by the placement and agree to allowing them the full term. [23777/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 283 together.

The eligibility criteria for a person to complete one year on community employment requires the person to be over 25 years and in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department of Social Protection for 52 continuous weeks prior to commencement.

The eligibility criteria for a person to complete in excess of one year on community employment requires that a person be in receipt of a qualifying payment and or participation on community employment for not less than 156 weeks.

A person in receipt of a disability payment from the Department of Social Protection is required to be in receipt of a qualifying payment for a minimum of 26 weeks.

This person was in receipt of a payment from the Department for 79 continuous weeks prior to commencement on the programme and is thus only eligible for 52 weeks and participation will terminate in October 2012.

There was no Departmental error in this case as the employer of this person was made fully aware of the eligibility of the person prior to their commencement on the scheme.

The person concerned should contact their local employment service office, in October 2012 to discuss other options that may be available to them.