Community Employment is an employment programme which helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to work routine. The programme assists them to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can then be used in the workplace.

The CE programme is Sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary organisations and public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities.

 

To participate in the DSP Community Employment programme, you must:

Register at your local Employment Services Office;

 

• Meet certain Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for Participants

The criteria for participating on the Community Employment programme are based on age and length of time in receipt of various social welfare payments. In general, the Part-time Integration Option is for people of 25 or over who are receiving social welfare payments for 1 year or more, and people of 18 years or over in receipt of disability-related payments.

The Part-time Job Option is for people who are 35 or over and in receipt of social welfare payments for 3 years or longer.

Certain groups such as travellers and refugees aged 18 or over are eligible for both options. If you qualify under the criteria but do not wish to take up the option yourself, there are certain conditions under which you can do a spousal swap.

Please note that eligibility to participate on the Community Employment programme is linked to those in receipt of an Irish social welfare payment (where specified).

Those persons not meeting the criteria under the Part-time Integration or Part-time Job Options, or who are signing for credits, or are receiving social welfare benefits from a different country, are not eligible to participate on Community Employment.

 

DSP gives financial support in the form of Allowances and Funding to assist with the Community Employment programme, for example participant wages, supervisor grants, materials grants, and specific skills training grants.

The training provided through Community Employment is delivered within a Quality Assurance framework. See details of recognised FETAC Awards and qualifications which can be achieved and which lead to major awards on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Contact your local Employment Services Office for further information about Community Employment.