Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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556. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering changing the duration after which a person on jobseeker's benefit can participate in a community employment scheme in view of the fact that the duration for which jobseeker's benefit is available has been shortened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36975/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people (defined as 12 months or more on the Live Register) and other disadvantaged persons (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. CE helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills.

It should be noted that persons with 9 months Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) followed immediately by 3 months on another CE-qualifying payment (e.g. Jobseeker's Allowance, One Parent Family Payment,) are still eligible to participate on Community Employment, as this combination of payments makes up the 12 month qualifying period. There are no plans to shorten the qualifying period.

In addition to Community Employment, there are a number of training and work experience opportunities available to clients in receipt of JB. JB clients should contact their local DSP Employment Service / Intreo office or the DSP website for further details.