Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis.
To cater for older workers in particular, in November 2004 the three year CE capping was revised to allow those of 55 years of age and over to avail of a six-year period on CE (based on participation since 3 April, 2000). These measures were introduced in recognition of the fact that older participants may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.
Participation on Community Employment has an upper age limit of 65 years of age, i.e. a CE participant/Supervisor can remain on CE until the day before their 66th birthday, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. FÁS cannot make funding available to a Sponsor for any participant or Supervisor aged 66 years or over. To do so would mean that the state would effectively be double-funding both the CE place and the participant's state pension simultaneously.
I understand that both people are currently on the Community Employment Project with Waterford City Council. The FÁS database showed one persons date of birth as being 3 February, 1946, and it was not until after the award of the contract that the error was discovered. With regard to the other person, the fact that he would reach retirement age in December 2008 was also overlooked.
Arrangements have, however, been made by FÁS representatives to meet with both participants on Friday, 13 February, 2009, to discuss the situation further and see how the matter can be resolved.
Any inconvenience caused is very much regretted.