Written answers

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Department of Social Protection

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection in relation to community employment workers, employed at Citizen Information Centres, having regard to the level of training involved, if consideration will be given towards a three year participation contract, having regard to the fact that participants would gain valuable experience and skills to enhance their CV's which would also ensure the maintenance, high quality public service at Citizen Information Centres within the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40795/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The aim of CE remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. The CE programme is one of a range of training and employment programmes available for unemployed persons. All of these programmes have specific objectives and eligibility criteria that address the specific needs of a wide range of participants.

The criteria for participating on the Community Employment (CE) programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments. The core eligibility criterion for CE is that the person is in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment, as defined on the Department’s public website. This requirement is based on Government policy and Departmental guidelines and has been the rule since CE commenced in 1994.

There are 2 options on Community Employment, a one-year version of CE and a three-year version of CE. Eligibility to participate on either option is determined by the length of time in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, i.e. 1 year in receipt to qualify for 1 year on CE and 3 years in receipt to qualify for the 3-year option (based on annually renewable contracts). There is no entitlement to 3 years under this latter option, only the flexibility to avail of up to 3 years on CE based on the participants progression levels and assessed personal needs at the end of each year. All CE participants are subject to participation caps: 3 years total participation for those below 55 years of age and 6 years total participation for those of 55 to 65 years of age (inclusive of any time spent on CE before reaching 55) – only counting CE participation since 3rd April 2000. Persons qualifying for CE via a disability-related payment can qualify for 1 further year on top of these caps if they are on the 3-year version.

The Citizen Information Centres (CIC) provide a vital service to the public, providing free, impartial information to the public. It is understandable that the CICs would want to retain staff they have spent time training, but staff employed under Community Employment are subject to the terms and conditions of the programme, including the requirement that they leave when their allotted time has expired. If a person was eligible for one year but was retained for three, that would deny two more eligible persons the opportunity of a year’s placement on CE. To reiterate, the aim of CE is to progress unemployed and other disadvantages persons off the scheme into employment and/or further education and training.

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