John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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648. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the entitlements of a person on a community employment scheme if he or she becomes ill or is injured short term and does not have enough PRSI contributions to avail of illness benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1475/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Community Employment (CE) Operating Guidelines allow the grant aiding of participant wages by the Department to the CE Sponsor organisation/employer for up to 56 working hours of medically certified sick leave (the hourly equivalent of 7 full days). Only when that 56 hour threshold has been exhausted is grant aid for wages suspended for any further certified sick leave by that participant during the 52 weeks of their CE contract.

Parallel to the above is the provision of illness benefit which is available to any employee who is medically certified as being unfit for work for 4 or more consecutive days (the first three days of illness are always unpaid on this benefit) and meet the qualification criteria.

If a person is unable to work due to illness and has insufficient means to meet their needs, they should contact their local Intreo Office regarding their eligibility for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA).

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.