Pat Rabbitte TD & Eamonn Maloney TD Dear constituent, I have put together a useful guide with some of the government initiatives available to support Jobseekers. If you have any queries or need assistance in applying, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR JOBSEEKERS? MOMENTUM If you are unemployed for 12 months or longer you may be eligible to apply for one of the projects on the Government's new Momentum programme. Projects include education and training in areas of high employment in the future. Momentum projects include work placements and links to identified job vacancies and employers.
Eligibility: You must be in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance/benefit for 12 months or more, or signing on the live register for Social Insurance credits for 12 months or more. Periods on Youth Reach and certain other schemes may be counted towards the 12 months required. Applications are taken by your local Employment Services (formerly FÁS) office. Participants continue to receive their jobseekers payments while on the course.
SPRINGBOARD This is a scheme aimed at up skilling people into areas where there is a demand for specific skills. The courses are provided free of charge to eligible participants. Courses include diplomas, higher diplomas, bachelor degrees and postgraduate qualifications. They are mostly part-time, allowing participants to take up a job offer during the course of their studies, should one arise. The courses conducted are often administered by highly reputable academic institutions.
Eligibility: You can be in receipt of one of a number of social welfare payments including Jobseeker’s Allowance and others - all listed on the Springboard site. You might also be eligible if you are actively seeking employment and either signing on for credits or previously self-employed.
JOBBRIDGE JobBridge is a Government initiative designed to offer jobseekers an opportunity to enhance their skills through an internship lasting 6-9 months. The internships cover diverse fields. A report last October found that 52 % of JobBridge 'finishers' were currently in paid employment since finishing their internships.
Eligibility: You must have a live claim and be in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance or signing for Social Insurance Contribution credits for at least 3 months (78 days).
FINANCIAL SUPPORTS FOR JOBSEEKERS AND THE DISABLED BACK TO EDUCATION ALLOWANCE (BTEA) BTEA is payable to people who are unemployed, disabled and others who are in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection. It allows the participant to retain their social welfare payment and secondary benefits whilst attending a second or third level course, subject to certain conditions. These can be found on www.welfare.ie.
qualifications. The weekly rate is €188 and a free travel pass is automatically awarded. Applications should be made to the Department of Social Protection directly. Supplementary Welfare Allowance is payable whilst waiting for a decision on the D.A claim, subject to the applicant satisfying the conditions of the latter.
FAMILY INCOME SUPPLEMENT (FIS) SUPPLEMENTARY WELFARE ALLOWANCE Supplementary welfare allowance is a means-tested payment given to people who have no basic income. It is often used to tie people over while they await a decision on an application for a payment from the Department of Social Protection. The amount paid in SWA is deducted from the arrears of the principle payment if awarded. It is usually awarded very quickly, often within a week. Applicants should apply to their local HEO (formerly Community Welfare Officer) in their local health centre, or in the Intreo Centre in the Square, Tallaght. The standard weekly rate is €186. Exceptional needs payments and urgent needs payments are also available to assist people who have unforeseen expenses. E.g. damage arising from flooding.
DISABILITY ALLOWANCE This is a means-tested payment given to applicants who have a disability that is likely to last for more than a year, that substantially restricts their ability to do work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and
Eamonn Maloney TD Dáil Eireann, Dublin 2 Ph: 6184833 E: eamonn.maloney@oir.ie
FIS is a weekly tax-free payment available to low-paid employees with children. Your child must be under 18 years of age or between 18 and 22 years of age and in full-time education. FIS is calculated as 60% of the difference between the income limit for the family size and the assessable income of the person(s) raising the child(ren). The income limit for family size is available at www.welfare.ie or from your local citizens’ information centre.
MEDICAL CARD A medical card entitles the holder to access free G.P care, prescribed medications and appliances, certain dental and ophthalmic services and in-patient stays in public hospitals. Medical card holders are also exempted from the €100 emergency department levy. Prescribed medications carry a prescription levy of €1.50 per item. In order to qualify for a medical card, your income must be below a certain threshold, or your medical costs must cause you to have undue financial hardship. You can apply for a medical card online at www.medicalcard.ie, or you can pick up an application form at your local health centre.
CONTACT LABOUR & ADVICE CENTRES TALLAGHT VILLAGE Saturday 2pm - 3pm T.W.S. - Trustus, 1 Main Street, Tallaght Village (Except August and Bank Holidays)
Pat Rabbitte TD
Working with
ADVICE CENTRES (excluding Bank Holidays & August) OLDBAWN Monday 6.00pm to 7.00pm Dominic’s Community Centre (Eamonn Maloney)
FETTERCAIRN Monday 7.00pm to 8.00pm Fettercairn Community Centre GREENHILLS Thursday 7.00pm to 8.00pm Greenhills Community Centre
Cllr Paddy Cosgrave 25 Orchardstown Drive Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 Ph: 085 1742709 E: cosgravepaddy@eircom.net
Cllr Marie Corr 35 Sundale Park Jobstown, Dublin 24 Ph: 085 7359200 E: mcorr@sdublincoco.ie
Cllr Pamela Kearns 203 Orwell Park Heights Templeogue, Dublin 6W Ph: 087 7756718 E: pkearns@sdublincoco.ie
Cllr Chris Bond 42 Allenton Drive Tallaght, Dublin 24 Ph: 086 1917159 E: cbond@sdublincoco.ie
Cllr Mick Duff PC 26 St Aongus Crescent Tallaght, Dublin 24 Ph: 087 2865570 E: mduff@sdublincoco.ie
Cllr Dermot Looney 1 Temple Manor Close Greenhills, Dublin 12 Ph: 085 7089955 E: dlooney@sdublincoco.ie
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Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Dail Eireann, Dublin 2 Ph: 6183772 / 6782011 E: pat.rabbitte@oir.ie