Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan who is unable to claim social welfare because of their partners means is unable to go on a community employment scheme when they demonstrably wants to work and when an offer is there; the reason FÁS cannot provide an eligibility from when they are out of work and the only reason they cannot claim social welfare is because of their partners means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34602/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Community Employment (CE) schemes provide a very important and valued contribution to social employment, training and progression for unemployed people. The primary objective of CE is the progression of participants into the open labour market by equipping the long-term unemployed through identified worthwhile work and training, with the skills that will allow them to enter the labour force.

In order to be eligible to participate on CE, a person must be unemployed and currently in receipt of one of a range of identified State payments for a minimum period of 12 months. While the person in question is unemployed, he is not in receipt of a state payment and therefore does not qualify for Community Employment.