drstevenscentre

The Dr Stevens Resource Centre Community Employment scheme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work. Participants are offered the opportunity to train, upskill or develop new skills, through a variety of training programmes run by the Centre. All training through the Centre is delivered within a QQI Quality Assurance framework and can lead to Major Awards on the National Framework of Qualifications. Funding is available for Certified training to assist you in upskilling for future employment prospects while on the CE scheme.

Am I eligible?

Applicants must be between 21 and 55 years of age and in receipt of a social welfare payment. You must also be getting any combination of the following payments for at least 12 months prior to applying: Jobseekers Benefit (JB); Jobseekers Allowance (JA); One-Parent Family Payment (OFP); Deserted Wife’s Benefit; Widows, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension; Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension; or Farm Assist. 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.

Note: 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 a further year subject to a maximum of three consecutive 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 up to three years (subject to annual review) without having to meet the requirement that they are training for a Major Award.

Note: If you are aged 21 and over, and are getting Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance, you can have worked up to 30 days in the 12 months before starting the CE scheme and still be eligible for the scheme. Persons from 18 to 21 years of age who are currently in receipt of any of the following payments from the Department for any length of time, but payment received within the 7 days preceding CE commencement can also apply for CE:

– Disability Allowance

– Blind Pension

– Illness Benefit for six months or more

– Invalidity Pension

This includes but is not limited to Travellers/Roma aged 18 years, refugees aged 18 years or over, as authenticated by the Department of Justice and Equality (i.e. Department of Justice letter of confirmation of refugee status plus valid Irish Residence Permit. CE Drugs Rehabilitation Places (DRPs) are available to persons aged 18 years or over who are in recovery and referred for a rehabilitation place on CE. Ex-offenders aged 18 years or over and referred by the following agencies: the Probation Service; IASIO’s Services – the Linkage Service, the Gate Service and Resettlement Service; and the Irish Prison Service. A person attending JobPath is permitted to undertake a placement on CE providing they satisfy the eligibility criteria for CE and maintain their engagement with the JobPath provider.