{"id":19840,"date":"2022-10-31T21:08:36","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T21:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=19840"},"modified":"2024-04-08T21:50:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T21:50:00","slug":"activation-supports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/activation-supports\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Employment"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/activation-supports\/#The_Scheme\" title=\"The Scheme\">The Scheme<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/activation-supports\/#Eligibility\" title=\"Eligibility\">Eligibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/activation-supports\/#I8_Years_Version\" title=\"I8 Years + Version\">I8 Years + Version<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/activation-supports\/#Participants\" title=\"Participants\">Participants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/activation-supports\/#CE_Payment\" title=\"CE Payment\">CE Payment<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Scheme\"><\/span>The Scheme<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The community employment scheme is designed to help long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged persons get back to work through part-time and temporary placements in jobs based in local communities. Participants are encouraged to seek full-time employment or part-time jobs elsewhere based on the experience and skills obtained.\u00a0 The scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection.<\/p>\n<p>Community employment has two distinct options, each with eligibility requirements.\u00a0 There is a part-time integration option and a part-time job option. The scheme is managed and sponsored by a local organisation and group.\u00a0 It arranges and administers the placement.\u00a0 It may offer training or skills development during placement.<\/p>\n<p>Placements are generally for an average of 39 hours per fortnight.\u00a0 Participants are paid and have certain statutory employment rights.\u00a0 They may be subject to tax but are exempt from universal social charge. \u00a0They pay a lower social PRSI rate, but it is deemed to be the full Class A rate.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eligibility\"><\/span>Eligibility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The following are eligible for the part time integration option:<\/p>\n<p>Persons aged 25 years and more who are in receipt of any of the following for more than 12 months;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jobseekers allowance or benefit<\/li>\n<li>One parent family payment<\/li>\n<li>Widowers\u2019 contributory or non-contributory pension<\/li>\n<li>Farm assist<\/li>\n<li>Deserted wife\u2019s benefit<\/li>\n<li>The Part time job option is open to much the same categories save that generally it is limited to Persons over 35 years of age and receiving the above benefits for three or more years.<\/li>\n<li>Persons over 35 in receipt of disability allowance, blind pension, inability pension or illness benefit for more than six months and<\/li>\n<li>Certain ex-offenders referred by prison or probation services also qualify.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"I8_Years_Version\"><\/span>I8 Years + Version<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In addition, certain other \u00a0persons over 18 in the above categories also qualify.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Those in receipt of invalidity, disability allowance or pension or illness benefit<\/li>\n<li>Travellers in receipt of jobseekers benefit or allowance or one parent family payment<\/li>\n<li>Refugees over 18 years of age holding a green card or Garda registration certificate<\/li>\n<li>Persons over 18 years living on offshore island<\/li>\n<li>Spousal swap whereby an eligible person may transfer eligibility to a spouse or cohabitant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The are special versions of the scheme for those in drugs rehabilitation over 18 years.\u00a0There are provision for reference by ex-offenders aged 18 years by the probation service, the prison service and certain other services.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Participants\"><\/span>Participants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As of early 2013, there were 25,300 persons on community employment schemes. Participants on the schemes after 2012 cannot claim other social welfare benefits at the same time.\u00a0 Existing participants on certain categories of payment \u00a0continued to receive them until 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Participants retain medical cards and are entitled to keep the benefits being received prior to going on to community employment provided they continue to comply with the conditions.\u00a0 They may be in a position to retain mortgage interest supplement and reduced rent supplement.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Social Protection provides funding to community employers.\u00a0 The minimum weekly payment for new participants for 19.5 hours is \u20ac208.\u00a0 This is \u20ac20 over and above the base social welfare payment.\u00a0 The same assessment rules that apply to the original social welfare payment apply to the community employment payment.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CE_Payment\"><\/span>CE Payment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The CE payment is a separate payment but the underlying rules applicable to the social welfare payment apply.\u00a0 If there is a change in circumstances, this should be notified to the Department.<\/p>\n<p>If for example, a qualified adult obtains a job, his \u00a0income is assessed as means and the CE payment may be reduced.\u00a0 A CE payment may include a payment for a qualified spouse.\u00a0 If he or she obtains employment, then the CE payment will be reduced.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p>Part 12A Employment schemes and other schemes and programmes (s. 359A-359B)<br \/>\n359A. Functions of Minister in relation to employment schemes and related schemes and programmes.<br \/>\n(1)The Minister may &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(a)provide, or arrange for and co-ordinate the provision of &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(i)employment schemes,<\/p>\n<p>(ii)assistance in obtaining employment,<\/p>\n<p>(iii)assistance in obtaining work experience,<\/p>\n<p>(iv)job placement schemes that facilitate persons seeking employment in obtaining employment, including the provision of &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(I)guidance, advice and information in respect of choice of career and employment, and<\/p>\n<p>(II)services, whereby persons seeking employment are introduced to persons offering employment, and<\/p>\n<p>(b)assist, whether financially or otherwise, in the provision of schemes and programmes referred to in paragraph (a).<\/p>\n<p>(1A)For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference to employment includes a reference to self-employment.<\/p>\n<p>(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Minister may provide for any employment scheme or other scheme or programme provided, immediately before the coming into operation of section 30 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010, by An Foras \u00c1iseanna Saothair, pursuant to paragraphs (b) to (g) of section 4(1) of the Labour Services Act 1987 including the following schemes and programme provided by An Foras \u00c1iseanna Saothair immediately before the coming into operation of section 30 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010:<\/p>\n<p>(a)the scheme known as Community Employment;<\/p>\n<p>(b)the programme commonly known as the work placement programme referred to in section 142B(4);<\/p>\n<p>(c)the scheme known as the Jobs Initiatives Scheme referred to in section 234.<\/p>\n<p>(3)The Minister may amend or terminate, at any time, a scheme or programme referred to in subsection (2).<\/p>\n<p>(4)The Minister shall not be, or be deemed to be, an employer within the meaning of the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 to 2014 by reason only of &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(a)the provision of funding by him or her to a person pursuant to a scheme or programme provided under this section, or<\/p>\n<p>(b)a payment made by him or her in accordance with subsection (5).<\/p>\n<p>(5)The Minister may, subject to the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, pay from the Exchequer sums agreed in relation to the scheme established and administered by the Minister and known as the Ex-Gratia Scheme for Community Employment Scheme Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors.<\/p>\n<p>359B. Discrimination on grounds of age in relation to employment schemes and other schemes and programmes<br \/>\n(1)The Minister, in respect of a class of persons prescribed by the Minister under subsection (2), may discriminate on the grounds of age in &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(a)providing, or arranging for and co-ordinating the provision of, a scheme, programme or assistance under section 359A(1)(a),<\/p>\n<p>(b)assisting, whether financially or otherwise, in the provision of a scheme, programme or assistance referred to in section 359A(1)(a), or<\/p>\n<p>(c)providing for any scheme or programme under section 359A(2).<\/p>\n<p>(2)The Minister may prescribe a class or classes of persons for the purposes of subsection (1) where, on the basis of the information relating to the unemployment rate, the participation rate, or the average duration of unemployment compiled by the Central Statistics Office under section 10 of the Statistics Act 1993 and contained in the most recently published survey for the time being known as the Quarterly National Household Survey &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(a)the unemployment rate for the class of persons is higher than the national unemployment rate,<\/p>\n<p>(b)the participation rate for the class of persons is lower than the national participation rate, or<\/p>\n<p>(c)the average duration of unemployment of unemployed persons in the class of persons is higher than the average national duration of unemployment.<\/p>\n<p>(3)Before 1 August 2016 and every 2 years after 2016, the Minister shall &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(a)carry out a review of the operation, effectiveness and impact of this section,<\/p>\n<p>(b)consider whether the prescribing of a class or classes of persons under subsection (2) continues to be necessary, having regard to the matters referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of that subsection,<\/p>\n<p>(c)make such findings as he or she thinks appropriate consequent on the review and consideration, and<\/p>\n<p>(d)cause a written report of his or her findings resulting from the review and consideration to be prepared and laid before each House of the Oireachtas.<\/p>\n<p>(4)Section 11 of the Employment Equality Act 1998 shall not apply in relation to the performance by the Minister of his or her functions under this section.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-19840\" data-postid=\"19840\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-19840 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Scheme The community employment scheme is designed to help long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged persons get back to work through part-time and temporary placements in jobs based in local communities. Participants are encouraged to seek full-time employment or part-time jobs elsewhere based on the experience and skills obtained.\u00a0 The scheme is administered by the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[287],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19840"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19840"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19840\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35096,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19840\/revisions\/35096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}