Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Joan Burton.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
generally dealt with on a chronological basis but if a person had an urgent need for a decision
the matter would be expedited.
Yesterday I launched a new scheme called partial capacity benefit. The scheme will provide
an opportunity for people with medical conditions and assessed and deemed to have an employment
capacity which is restricted when compared to the norm to avail of employment opportunities
while continuing to receive an income support payment. The introduction of the scheme
seeks to respond to weaknesses in the current structure of the welfare system, which categorises
people only as “fit to work” or “unfit to work”. This does not reflect the reality for many
existing welfare customers. The scheme will be open to people who are in receipt of invalidity
pension or who have been in receipt of illness benefit for a minimum of six months. Following
the introduction of the new scheme exemptions for participation in part-time work will no
longer be available. Participation in the partial capacity benefit scheme will be voluntary.
324. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm
that an existing community employment participant who also receives illness benefit will continue
to receive both payments if their CE participation is extended for a third year. [7871/12]
Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): Existing CE participants who have
their contracts renewed after the 16th January 2012 will retain their social welfare payment
provided they are continuously employed on CE from that date. This provision is subject to
the standard CE participation limits and a final cut-off date for double payments of December
2014. All CE participants will receive a single payment only from that date.
Job Initiative
325. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the
ineligibility of one-parent family recipients for the JobBridge scheme (details supplied); and if
she will make a statement on the matter. [7888/12]
Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The National Internship Scheme provides
internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live
Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors. The scheme
is limited to individuals who are currently on the Live Register and have been in receipt of
Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or are signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months.
The eligibility to access the National Internship Scheme is based on the overall objective of
labour market policy in ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education
opportunities for those on the Live Register. It is important that as employment opportunities
become available they are taken up by those on the Live Register. The structure for achieving
this objective is through a reinvigorated National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) which
currently provides the framework for engaging with the unemployed.
Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, the key objective of labour market policy and
of the NEAP will be to keep those on the Live Register close to the Labour Market and
prevent the drift into long-term unemployment. This will ensure that Live Register members
availing of activation measures such as the National Internship Scheme will, while retaining
social welfare unemployment payments and a top up allowance of €50, get an opportunity to
engage in the workplace, get work experience and so be in a position to avail of employment
opportunities as the economy improves.
For these reasons, it has been proposed as a matter of public policy that eligibility for the
scheme be confined to those on the Live Register and in receipt of unemployment payments
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