Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if participants on community employment schemes can remain on these schemes until they are sixty six years of age in view of the raising of the State pension age to 66 since 1 January 2014, with the abolition of the State pension transition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6067/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The retirement age of Community Employment (CE) participants and supervisors is amended in the CE Operating Procedures to match the provisions of Section 7 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 regarding the qualifying age for the State Pension. This means that the revised retirement age will be based on the date of birth of the person as follows:

- For persons born before 1 January 1955 the minimum qualifying State Pension age will be 66.

- For persons born on or after 1 January 1955 the minimum qualifying State Pension age will be 67.

- For persons born on or after 1 January 1961 the minimum qualifying State Pension age will be 68.

Once a person reaches the qualifying age for the State Pension (specifically the Friday before their relevant birthday), their CE position will no longer be funded by the Department of Social Protection. It is Departmental policy not to simultaneously fund two personal payments (i.e. a CE payment and State Pension at the same time).