Ballymac CE CLG

The Community Employment (CE) programme helps people who are long-term unemployed to get back to work. Ballymac CE offers part-time, temporary job placements within local communities across County Kerry.

By working with Ballymac CE, you can gain new skills, work experience, and accredited qualifications that will help you find permanent employment. Training is provided as part of your placement — at no cost to you.

You can also take up other part-time work during your CE placement, and when your placement ends, you will be supported in finding employment using the skills and experience you have gained.

Am I Eligible?

You may be eligible for a Ballymac CE placement if you meet the following criteria:
To get a job through a Community Employment (CE) scheme in Ireland, you must first confirm your eligibility and then follow a specific referral process through your local Intreo centre.

Before applying, you must meet age and social welfare requirements:

• Age: You generally must be 21 years or older. Some exceptions allow those aged 18+ to join if they are from a disadvantaged group or have a disability.
• Payment Requirement: In most cases, you must have been receiving a qualifying social welfare payment (such as Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit, or One-Parent Family Payment) for at least 12 months.
• Disability Exceptions: If you receive a disability-linked payment (e.g., Disability Allowance), the qualifying period may be shorter, often 6 months.

How to Apply

Applying for a Ballymac CE placement is straightforward:

1. Search for Vacancies: CE vacancies are not typically applied for like standard private-sector jobs.
   • Online Search: Browse current openings on the JobsIreland website. Look for the “CE Scheme” tag or use it as a search filter.
   • Local Office: Visit your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to ask for a list of local CE opportunities.
2. Request a Referral: You cannot apply directly to the employer until you are officially referred by the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
   • Contact Your Case Officer: Once you find a vacancy you like, provide the vacancy reference number to your local Intreo office or employment services officer.
   • Eligibility Check: The officer will verify your eligibility for the specific role and the scheme in general.
   • Official Referral: If eligible, they will “refer” you to the scheme sponsor (the organization running the project).
3. Attend the Interview: The sponsor organization will contact you to arrange an interview once they receive your referral.
   • Preparation: Be ready to discuss your skills, previous experience, and why you want to participate in the scheme.
   • Training Plan: During the interview, you may discuss your Individual Learner Plan (ILP), as CE schemes focus heavily on upskilling and training for future permanent work.
   • Garda Vetting: Some roles, particularly in childcare or elder care, will require you to undergo Garda vetting before starting.
4. Start the Placement: If successful at the interview, you will be offered a place.
   • Working Hours: Most placements are for 19.5 hours per week.
   • Wages: Your pay is based on your underlying social welfare rate plus a standard CE top-up (currently €286.50 minimum per week as of 2026).