Dick has welcomed Government proposals  to  alter the terms of the jobseeker’s scheme to allow people in receipt  of  Jobseekers  payments to participate in a community project for 19.5 hours per week.

“Under the new plans, the Community Services Programme and the Rural Social Scheme, which will transfer to the Department of Social Protection, will be expanded  significantly.   At  present  5,300  people  participate in these schemes and under the new arrangements these will be increased by a further 10,000 in the short term to 40,000 over the period ahead."

"The  additional  places  under  the social economy schemes will allow those people  who  are  currently in receipt of a jobseekers payment to use their skills  or  develop  new ones in a community setting.  The new arrangements will  give  people who through no fault of their own, the opportunity to be active  in  a work setting, to keep their skills up to date, to acquire new skills and to maintain an active CV.

Importantly,  this  initiative will help to crack down on the black economy and on people who cheat the social welfare system.

The  new  scheme  coming  as it does on top of other Government initiatives such  as  the  PRSI  holiday, the labour activation fund and the employment subsidy  fund  is  a  welcome addition to a range of Government measures to help  create  employment  and  to  support  people who are currently out of work,” Minister Roche said.