Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for a community employment scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40205/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Details of Community Employment (CE) eligibility criteria are published on the Department’s website (welfare.ie) and on the Citzens Information website (citizensinformation.ie).

Current eligibility to participate on CE is linked to a person’s social welfare status (duration of payment) and age.

The CE Programme has two options:

- Part Time Integration Option (PTI) provides for 1 year on CE for those who have been in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments for 12 months or more.

- Part Time Job Option (PTJ), 3-years on CE for those who have been in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments for 3 years or more. Certain categories of participants can have extended time on CE up to a maximum of 6 years for those aged over 55 years and 7 years for people with a disability.

The person in question appears to be in receipt of Invalidity Pension and would, therefore, appear to be eligible to participate on CE for up to 7 years in his lifetime. He can establish his eligibility by calling into his local Intreo Office.