Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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21. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person on a widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension can partake in a community employment scheme and retain a pension plus a community employment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35402/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Section 247B of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) disqualifies persons in receipt of specified social insurance or social assistance payments (including widows/widowers pension) from retaining those payments for the duration of participation on the Community Employment (CE) programme, where their CE participation commenced on or after 16^thJanuary 2012. While employed on CE, they are paid at a rate €20 per week above their original social welfare rate. On completion of their CE placement, they can return to the original social welfare payment, provided they continue to meet the criteria for receipt of such payment.