Working for Work : Chapter 4 : Welfare to Work

Community Employment (CE)

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Community Employment schemes are Active Labour Market Programmes (ALMP's) supported by FÁS. These schemes provide training and work experience, primarily to long-term unemployed people and those on the One Parent Family Payment, with some other groups of people also being eligible. Those on CE work for an average of 19.5 hours per week (or 39 hours per fortnight).

Local sponsors - community groups, local authorities or non-profit companies working in the voluntary sector or local authorities - manage CE projects. CE is divided into two options that have different eligibility rules and conditions. The type of work varies considerably from project to project. Jobs are advertised through FÁS, LES offices and local Job Clubs. You can apply for a CE position through your local FÁS office, LES or Job Club. Visit www.fas.ie for further details.

CE Part-Time Integration Option

The objective of the Part-time Integration Option is to help ensure that participants find a job or enter full time training/education normally after one year on Community Employment. If you decide to take a place on this option you may qualify for one year on the scheme.

Who is eligible?

  • Anyone 25 years of age or over and currently in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance/Jobseeker's Benefit or One Parent Family Payment for 12 months or more.
  • Anyone 25 years of age or over in receipt of either Widows/Widowers pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory), Farm Assist or Deserted Wife's Benefit for 12 months or more.
  • Anyone 25 years of age or over who is a Qualified Adult Dependant of an eligible person who is currently in receipt of either JA, JB, or Farm Assist for 12 months or more may avail of the Spousal Swap Option. (This does not apply to a Qualified Adult Dependant of those on Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension).
  • All Refugees (Convention and Programme) aged 18 years and over, as authenticated by the Department of Justice and Equality (i.e. Green Card or Garda Registration Certificate with Stamp 4) without the requisite number of weeks in receipt of payments from the DSP.
  • Travellers of any age, unemployed and in receipt of JA/JB for any period, or OPFP for one year or more. For Travellers aged 16 to 17 years, a minimum of 12 months spent in a Travellers Training Workshop will suffice for eligibility.
  • Persons of 18 years of age or over and in receipt of either Disability Allowance or Blind Pension or Invalidity Pension, (who obtain approval from the DSP, to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature), or Illness Benefit for 6 months or more (who obtain approval from Department of Social Protection) to engage in work of a rehabilitative nature).
  • Persons aged 18 years or over referred by the Drugs Task Force.
  • Ex-offenders, aged 18 years or over, who are referred by the Probation Service. Also, Ex-offenders aged 18 and over not referred by the Probation Service and in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit for 1 year or more. Time spent as a prisoner is regarded as reckonable when considering duration of unemployment.
  • Persons aged 18 years or over inhabiting the off-shore islands
  • Persons aged 25 years or over who were in receipt of Carer's Allowance, but caring responsibilities must have ceased and the person must currently be in receipt of either Jobseekers Allowance, Jobseekers Benefit or One Parent Family Payment for a combined total of 12 months or more.

CE Part-Time Job Option

On the Part-time job option you may be eligible to work up to three years compared to the standard 1-year available to other participants. The 3-year option recognises the need to provide access to a part-time placement for extended periods for older persons who have been unable to secure regular employment for some time. If you decide to take a place on this option you may be taken on for one year initially and depending on your work performance and availability of places, you can be re-engaged for further periods, up to a maximum of 3 years subject to approval by FÁS.

Who is eligible?

Eligibility for CE Part-Time Job Option is the same as for the CE Part-Time Integration Option with the exception of the following; that the age requirement is 35 years of age rather than 25:

Persons aged 35 years or over who were in receipt of a Carer's Allowance, or a combination of Carer's Allowance and either JA, JB or OPFP, for 3-years or more.

Anyone 35 years of age or over who is a Qualified Adult Dependant of an eligible person who is currently in receipt of either JA, JB, or Farm Assist for 3 years or more may avail of the Spousal Swap option. (This does not apply to Qualified Adult Dependants of those on Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension or Blind Pension (Spousal Swap).

Travellers of 18 years or over in receipt of JA, JB or OPFP for one year or more. For Travellers aged 16-17 years, a minimum of 12 months spent on a Travellers Training Workshop will suffice for eligibility.

Ex-offenders aged 35 years or over, who are referred by the Probation Service. Also, ex-offenders aged 35 and over not referred by the Probation Service and in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit for 3 years or more. Time spent as a prisoner is regarded as reckonable when considering duration of unemployment. -

Persons 35 years of age or over in receipt of either Disability Allowance or Blind Pension or Invalidity Pension (who obtain approval from the DSP, to engage in employment of a rehabilitative nature) or Illness Benefit for 6 months or more (who obtain approval from DSP to engage in work of a rehabilitative nature).

 

The maximum rates of pay on CE projects are: Personal Allowance €208.00 - Qualified Adult Dependant (at Maximum Rate) €124.80 - Each Qualified Child €29.80 - Each half-rate Qualified Child €14.90

Important Points to remember

  • If you are earning less than €352 per week you are exempt from paying PRSI - but a PRSI contribution is made by your employer. If you earn more than €352, there is a PRSI disregard on the first €127 you earn per week. PRSI is paid at a rate of 4% on all weekly earnings over €127.
  • The Universal Social Charge does not count income from Community Employment as part of your 'gross' income.
  • To make up your qualifying time for Community Employment you can combine a period of time spent on a recognised training, education or employment programme. Time spent in prison may also count as time unemployed.
  • The capping of participation on CE, as outlined below, does not apply to periods spent on CE before April 3rd, 2000
  • Lifetime participation for those participating on the CE, is 'capped' at three years for those aged under 55 and at six years for those aged 55 and over who may participate for up to 6 years in total (with the exception of the cases outlined below).
  • Lifetime participation for those participating on the CE and qualifying as a result of receipt of a DSP disability linked benefit, is 'capped' at four years for those aged under 55 and at seven years for those 55 and over. -
  • The normal 'waiting period' for those wanting to repeat a one-year term on CE is 12 months.
  • If the income of your partner/spouse changes after you start the CE Scheme you will continue to receive the qualified adult and child dependent rates that you received when you first went on to the scheme. If you have additional children you may receive a further qualified child payment.

If you finish a scheme and apply for an unemployment payment you can choose the payment of most benefit to you, either long-term Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit. If you choose Jobseeker's Benefit, you will lose entitlement to long-term secondary benefits such as the Fuel Allowance.

What about my Secondary Benefits?

If your CE commenced after 6th June 2007 then the new means assessment applies for rent supplement recipients. If you are on CE and also in receipt of a Social Welfare payment, it is unlikely you will receive the Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Fuel Allowance may be payable by FÁS, to Jobseeker clients only, if the DSP confirm eligibility to this payment to FÁS. Lone parents and persons in receipt of a disability-related payments continue to receive Fuel Allowance via their DSP payment.

Rent Supplement:

If you are receiving Rent Supplement, the combination of income from CE and your Social Welfare payment will also affect your Rent Supplement. See Chapter 2 for a comprehensive review of the new Rent Supplement assessment.

Medical Card:

You will keep your medical card while on CE no matter how much you earn.

Training on Community Employment

Each Community Employment project currently has a training and development budget for participants of €500 per CE place per year.

Training is available to participants in four categories: Project-related training, Progression-related training, Core Skills training and Return to Education training (literacy and numeracy).

'Project related' training includes training and development of the participants skills to enable them to carry out their work on the CE scheme. 'Progression related' training provides for training which will enable participants to improve existing skills or learn additional skills necessary to progress into employment. 'Core Skills' training aims to provide additional personal and technical skills to help access employment. Return to Education training is offered to participants who feel they would benefit from such training.

The Community Employment (CE) Individual Learner Plan (ILP) system is used to record each individual participant's training and work experience activities throughout their time on Community Employment (CE).

When you are undertaking training try to ensure that:

  • The training is relevant and beneficial to your general skills and will prove useful in seeking employment after your scheme;
  • The training and development modules you choose offer a recognised certificate or qualification;
  • You obtain a relevant up-to-date reference from your CE supervisor outlining the training you received and the experience you have gained. A summary "Record of Achievement" document is now issued to each participant by the Supervisor recording successfully completed training as part of the CE Individual Learner Plan.

Additional Employment

You can take up additional employment outside of your CE scheme. Income from this work is subject to tax, PRSI and the Universal Social Charge in the normal way (see Chapter 5 for information on tax and PRSI). Any additional income may affect your secondary benefits, in particular your Rent Supplement (see Chapter 2).

What happens after I finish my CE options?

  • Under the Part-Time Integration Option you may be eligible for another year on Community Employment. There is no automatic eligibility to an extension and only 20% of the total number of CE places can be extended for a second year. You should talk to your CE supervisor if you feel that another year would increase your chances of getting a job later on. Your sponsor must request the extension from FÁS at least 8 weeks before your finish date.
  • You should speak with your FÁS Employment Services Officer or LES office if there is one in your area, before you finish your scheme, to discuss your options for getting work.
  • If you are unemployed after your CE scheme, you may qualify for either Jobseeker's Benefit or long-term Jobseeker's Allowance. You can choose the payment of most benefit to you. - If you want to return to education after your scheme there are a number of programmes you may qualify for (see Chapter 6). If you are in receipt of an unemployment payment it is very important that you inform the local Department of Social Protection Office of any application you make to participate on any of these programmes. If you are successful in securing a place on a programme you should inform the local Department of Social Protection Office and confirm arrangements to ensure your social welfare payment is continued.

Community Employment (CE) Rights

The INOU supports and promotes the rights of CE participants to join a trade union in order to protect their employment rights.

  • If you are dismissed you have the right to receive a written notice outlining the reason for dismissal once you have completed a continuous year's service. If you feel you have been sacked unfairly, you can take a case to the Labour Relations Commission and make a complaint under the Unfair Dismissal Act. An employee generally requires one year's continuous service to claim under the Act. -
  • You are not required to work weekends or irregular hours unless this is a requirement of the job and was explained to you at your interview, and/or is specified in your job description.
  • While the project sponsor decides sick leave policy, FÁS reimburses the sponsor for a total of 7 full day's sick leave if you supply a doctor's certificate. If you have the necessary PRSI contributions you can claim Illness Benefit, otherwise you will have to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance from your Community Welfare Officer at your local Health Centre.
  • All women are entitled to statutory maternity leave on CE. If you do not qualify for Maternity Benefit i.e. if you don't have enough PRSI contributions, you should go to your local office of the Department of Social Protection and sign on. You can apply for the One-Parent Family Payment if you are a lone parent when your child is born. You may be entitled to claim Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you are waiting for either of these payments.

Holidays

  • A participant engaged for the full duration of a CE scheme is entitled to 10.5 full days (81 hours) holidays and pro-rata where a lesser period is worked.
  • Holidays must be taken within the 52-week period or not at all.
  • Participants may qualify to receive payments in lieu of holidays.
  • Arrangements for taking holidays are a matter of agreement between the sponsor and the participants.

If you are on CE, the project sponsors (your employers) must follow the legislation relevant to part-time workers.

Complaints Procedures

If you have difficulties while on your scheme, FÁS prescribes that each project should have procedures in place to deal with these difficulties. FÁS is currently in the process of revising all their complaints procedures and when this is completed the results will be published on the FÁS internet web site.

Job Initiative (JI)

This programme is no longer recruiting participants.

There is a prior commitment from the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation that there will be no compulsory lay-offs on JI. Those participants who remain on JI may have their contracts renewed until they reach 66 years of age, when FÁS would cease funding them. Community Employment (CE) participants may replace people who leave JI voluntarily, depending on circumstances.

Last Updated: 31/08/2011 ^ back to top