Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 4

Written Answers. - Educational Opportunities for Unemployed.

Séamus Cullimore

Question:

310 Mr. Cullimore asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of social welfare recipients who benefit from the various opportunities to return to full-time education while in receipt of personal benefits; and if he has satisfied himself with the education opportunities for the unemployed.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

The education schemes available to the unemployed and the number of participants in each scheme are as follows:

Scheme	Participants
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme	877
Third Level Pilot Scheme	186
Second Level Initiative	70
Vocational Preparation and Training (Dublin Area only)	113
Part-Time Education Initiative	No figures available

Considerable flexibility has been introduced in recent years into the unemployment payments system in order to encourage unemployed persons to take advantage of educational opportunities with a view to their return to the work force.

Prior to 1986, unemployed persons wishing to attend courses of education would lose their payments on the grounds that the conditions requiring them to be available for work would no longer be satisfied.

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme which is administered by the Department of Education has the largest number of participants and operates in 53 centres nationwide. While on the scheme the unemployed person receives a weekly allowance equivalent to his or her unemployment payment. Persons may also attend other full-time or part-time education courses without infringing the availability for work condition. The third level allowance which was introduced as a pilot scheme in 1990 allows unemployed people to receive an allowance equivalent to their unemployment payments while pursuing full-time third-level courses.

My Department is currently reviewing the issue of providing encouragement to unemployed people to take up courses of education and training in the context of the area-based response to long term unemployment which is being piloted in 12 areas throughout the country under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress.