Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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478. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) may take up a place on a community employment scheme; her plans to revise the rules surrounding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45885/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The current referral rules for applicants to Community Employment (CE) positions state that their eligibility to apply for the position is established at the time of referral for interview to the CE employer by a DSP Employment Services or Intreo office. If the eligible person is successful at interview and is offered and accepts the position pending the outcome of Garda vetting (where it is required), the eligibility established at the time of referral is retained pending the return of the Garda disclosure, even if their Jobseeker’s Benefit payment should cease prior to their CE commencement date. They can commence on CE once their Garda vetting has returned and is satisfactory for the employer.

Normally a person applying for a CE position has to be in receipt of a qualifying payment on the Friday before their CE commencement date (which is always a Monday); however this rule was amended when the Garda vetting processing times increased, so as not to penalise those in receipt of benefit payments whose payment period exhausted after being successful at interview.