Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the position, whereby a person who is in receipt of widow's contributory pension, can participate on a community employment scheme; if such participation will affect their entitlement to the widow's contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48563/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A person of 25 years of age or over who is currently in receipt of Widows/Widowers Contributory or Non-Contributory Pension for a minimum of 12 months is eligible to participate on the Community Employment (CE) programme, as per the published eligibility criteria.

From 16^th January 2012, new participants on CE schemes will not be able to simultaneously claim their original social welfare payment and a Community Employment allowance, as per section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2011. This measure affects those in receipt of the following payments commencing CE after that date:

One Parent Family Payment

Deserted Wife’s Benefit

Widow(er)s Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory)

Illness Benefit

Disability Allowance

Invalidity Pension

Blind Pension

These new CE participants will receive payments directly via the CE scheme at a rate equivalent to their original social welfare payment (including any increase for a qualified adult and/or child dependants) plus an additional €20 CE participation bonus.

New participants are defined as those persons who, with effect from 16^th January 2012, have not been employed on a CE scheme in the 12 months prior to commencing the current CE placement.