Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the criteria that must be met by applicants wishing to participate in community employment schemes; if there are any options to grant discretionary places to persons who do not meet the criteria yet would stand to benefit from the experience gained under a CE scheme with regard to pursuing further education within chosen fields; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10484/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The basic criteria that must be met by applicants wishing to participate in Community Employment (CE) schemes for one year are set out as follows:

A person must be 25 years of age and over and currently in receipt of any combination of the following social welfare payments for 12 continuous months or more: - Jobseekers Benefit (JB);- Jobseekers Allowance (JA); - One Parent Family Payment (OFP);- Widow/ers Contributory or Non Contributory Pension;- Deserted Wife’s Benefit;- Farm Assist.

Time spent in receipt of Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Carer’s Allowance can also count towards the CE qualifying period, but the recipient must have transferred to one of the above CE-qualifying payments (i.e. JB, JA or OFP).

Persons aged 18 or over who are currently in receipt (1 week plus) of any of the following payments are also eligible for CE:- Disability Allowance;- Blind Pension;- Invalidity Pension;- Illness Benefit (minimum of 6 months in receipt)

There is also provision for Travellers, refugees, offshore islanders, ex-offenders and stabilised drug-misusers referred via the National Rehabilitation Framework protocols. Time spent in prison or on recognised training courses can also count towards eligibility.

There is no option to grant discretionary places to persons who do not meet the stated eligibility criteria.

Persons who do not currently qualify for CE may, however, be eligible for participation on other programmes or courses. Such persons are advised to contact their local Intreo Office or DSP Employment Services Office where a Case Officer will be happy to discuss the employment and training options that are open to them.