Service
Community Employment Programme
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Community Employment (CE) programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities.
Participants can take up other part-time work during their CE placement.
The work is community-based.
The training provided through CE is delivered within a Quality Assurance framework. See details of recognised courses on www.qqi.ie that can be achieved and that lead to major awards on the National Framework of Qualifications.
Expenditure towards training on the CE programme is funded through the National Training Fund (NTF) administered by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
When a person’s CE placement ends, the person is encouraged to seek a job elsewhere using the skills, experience and training gained while participating on the CE scheme.
The duration of a CE placement is for 12 months with some exceptions.
The general qualifying age for CE is 21 years.
In general, you must also be getting one of the following payments for at least 12 months:
Some exceptions exist and it is best to speak to a member of staff in your local Intreo Centre for more information about the qualifying criteria.
In general, all placements are for one year only, but if a CE participant is undertaking training to achieve a major award, the participant's time can be extended by up to two years to allow him or her to complete the training which will enhance his or her overall employment prospects. Eligible people over 55 years of age can remain on CE for three years without having to meet the requirement that they are training for a major award.
if you are a QA on your spouse, partner, civil partner or cohabitant’s Jobseekers Allowance claim and they meet the eligibility for CE, you may be eligible to participate in CE. Please note that this CE eligibility option is open to QAs as part of a pilot scheme since 1 January 2023.
Payments are made in the form of a wage. Participant wage rates are determined by the underlying social welfare entitlement.
The minimum weekly payment (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €259.50 per week.
If the Social Welfare Payment you were in receipt of before starting a CE scheme is more than €232 per week, you will receive the same amount as your Social Welfare Payment plus €27.50 per week.
If the Social Welfare Payment you were in receipt of before starting a CE scheme is less than or equal to €232 per week, you will receive a payment of €259.50 per week.
You may retain any extra benefits, provided you are still eligible.
Participants joining Community Employment are insured at special Class A8/A9 PRSI, which will give them a paid contribution for each week, as with other Class A workers. Further information can be found here
Jobs are advertised on national job and employment websites and local media, for example www.jobsireland.ie.
Alternatively, you can speak to a member of staff in your local Intreo Office .
Voluntary organisations and public bodies may sponsor CE projects that are for community and public benefit. They should contact their local Intreo Centre for more information.
The Community Employment Ex-Gratia Payment is a once-off payment for eligible CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors. You can get this payment after reaching retirement age in respect of time employed in that role.