11 Jun 2026
The Community Employment (CE) Scheme in Ireland is one of the country’s most established employment support schemes, designed to help long-term unemployed individuals and certain disadvantaged groups return to work through structured, part-time placements and training.
Operated by the Department of Social Protection (DSP), the CE Scheme combines work experience, skills development, and community service to improve long-term employability. Each year, it supports approximately 19,000 participants across 850+ community projects nationwide, making it one of Ireland’s largest active labour market programmes.
The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is a government-funded programme that helps people who are long-term unemployed or facing barriers to employment gain work experience, develop skills, and improve their employment prospects.
Participants work in part time and temporary roles with local community and voluntary organisations while receiving training and employment support.
Participants may also take up additional part-time or self-employed work, and can do other part time work without affecting their ce payment if it does not interfere with their CE placement and all income is declared to Revenue.
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) funds the scheme, while local community organisations and public bodies manage placements. After completing the programme, participants are encouraged to seek work or training, and CE helps them develop new skills so they can move into employment, education, or further training opportunities.
CE supervisors and assistant supervisors may also qualify for a once-off CE Ex-Gratia Payment upon reaching retirement age, subject to eligibility conditions.
Additional information, guidance for participants and supervisors, and a Community Employment video featuring participant experiences are available through official DSP and gov.ie resources.
The CE Scheme is designed to achieve two main goals:
It helps individuals:
It supports:
In many cases, it acts as a bridge between welfare dependency and sustainable employment.
Participants are placed in organisations such as:
These are temporary placements in jobs based in local communities, including placements in jobs based in services that deliver public benefit; voluntary organisations can sponsor CE projects for community benefit, and these are jobs based in real community settings.
The minimum weekly payment is €286.50 for 19.5 hours worked.
This structure allows participants to balance personal commitments while gaining employment experience.
Training is a key part of the CE Scheme, and the training provided includes recognised courses delivered within a quality assurance framework and linked to the national framework, helping participants build skills, gain qualifications, improve their employment prospects, and strengthen their job-seeking abilities after the scheme.
Participants may receive:
Participants aged 21 to 55 may extend participation for up to two years when working towards a major education award or a QQI qualification, while those aged 55 and over continue to receive recognised training and employment support throughout their placement, subject to the maximum total period allowed.
Each CE project includes:
CE participants have statutory employment rights, including certain statutory employment rights, during their placement.
They pay PRSI at Class A8/A9, and these count as full contributions.
This structured environment helps participants gradually transition back into full-time employment.
Eligibility for the Community Employment (CE) Scheme in Ireland is mainly based on your age, unemployment duration, and the type of social welfare payment you are receiving.
Basic Requirements:
You can also qualify if you are a qualified adult on your spouse’s, civil partner’s, or cohabitant’s claim.
You may still qualify for the CE Scheme if you worked for up to 30 days in the previous 12 months while receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) or Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB), and where your circumstances change the assessment may also take account of your original social welfare payment and current social welfare payment.
Time spent on certain supports may also count towards the 12-month qualifying period, including time on a recognised training course where there are no gaps between payments, and the same rules can apply to other payments linked to your claim. These include:
The following do not count towards CE Scheme eligibility:
This section covers other CE eligibility options and CE job opportunities.
You may also qualify if you:
To apply, register at your local Intreo Centre or social welfare branch office. CE places are limited each year, and listings are available online and locally.
For further information and contact details, check official DSP resources.
The Community Employment (CE) Scheme in Ireland plays a vital role in supporting long-term unemployed people and disadvantaged groups by offering part-time, community-based work placements combined with training and skills development. With placements generally lasting for one year and possible extensions for education awards, the scheme provides valuable opportunities to gain experience, improve employability, and transition back into the labour market. Participants benefit from ongoing support, statutory employment rights, and the ability to take up other part-time work without affecting their CE payment. The CE Scheme also promotes social inclusion and helps participants maintain access to other social welfare benefits, including disability allowance and medical cards. By engaging with local community organisations and public bodies, the scheme fosters community development while empowering unemployed people to build a sustainable future.
CE placements generally last for one year. However, if you are working towards a major education award, your placement can be extended by up to two additional years. Participants aged over 55 can stay on CE for three consecutive years, and those aged 60 and over may remain until they reach State Pension age, subject to eligibility and availability.
Yes, participants can take up other part-time work or self-employment during their CE placement, provided it does not interfere with their CE duties and all additional income is declared to Revenue. This additional work will not affect your CE payment.
Participants receive a weekly payment based on their previous social welfare payment. The minimum weekly payment is €286.50 for 19.5 hours worked. If your previous payment was over €254 per week, you will receive that amount plus an additional €32.50. You also retain access to other social welfare benefits, including medical cards and disability allowance, subject to usual conditions.
Eligibility depends on age, unemployment duration, and social welfare payments. Generally, you must be aged 21 or over and have been receiving a qualifying social welfare payment for at least 12 months. Special provisions exist for participants aged 55 and over, qualified adults on a partner’s claim, and certain disadvantaged groups.
To apply, you must register at your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. CE job opportunities are limited and advertised online and locally. Voluntary organisations and public bodies may sponsor CE projects, and you can contact your local Intreo Centre for more information.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, regulatory, tax, business, or financial advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of ACE Money Transfer. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no warranty is given as to the completeness, accuracy, or currency of the information. Services and practices mentioned may vary by provider and jurisdiction. Readers should consult qualified professional advisors before making any financial or business decisions.
