Vol. 458 No. 5
46 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the circumstances in which persons in receipt of disability benefit, invalidity pension and disabled person's maintenance allowance can participate in employment schemes or training courses; and the number of persons in receipt of these payments who are currently participating in such employment or schemes. [16762/95]
FÁS mainline training programmes are open to all persons regardless of their previous social welfare status. However, priority is given to those on the live register. At the end of October, 306 participants on FÁS training programmes had been in receipt of the payments to which you refer immediately prior to participation.
Community employment is the only employment programme for which my Department has responsibility. If offers temporary work experience together with an element of training and is primarily targeted at those in receipt of an unemployment compensation payment or in receipt of lone parent's allowance. However, provision is also made for referrals by the National Rehabilitation Board and I understand that 765 persons referred by the NRB were in receipt of the payments to which you refer immediately prior to participation.
