Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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342. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend community employment eligibility to self-employed jobseeker's in view of the fact that persons in receipt of farm assist are permitted to take up community employment places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16130/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The pattern of participation on the Community Employment (CE) programme is dependent on the individual circumstances of each person and the length of time she has been in receipt of a CE-qualifying social welfare payment. CE is intended for the long-term unemployed and other specified disadvantaged groups, including those who are in receipt of Farm Assist, a means-tested payment which is aimed at low income farmers.

The aim of CE remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The main cohort of CE participants is made up of the long-term unemployed in receipt of jobseekers allowance.

While it is possible for a self-employed person to meet the basic criteria of receipt of a CE-qualifying payment (specifically jobseekers allowance) for the requisite period of time (12 months), they may not meet the criteria of being unemployed during that qualifying period. For CE, the maximum amount of days worked permissible for a jobseeker is 30 days within the 12-month qualifying period. If a self-employed person is in receipt of jobseekers allowance and meets the criteria outlined above, they can be considered for CE on a case-by-case basis.

Those who do not meet the CE eligibility criteria are advised to contact their local DSP Intreo Office where a case officer will be happy to discuss the other employment and training options that are open to them.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.