Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 8

Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.

Ivor Callely

Question:

103 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether his Department should have schemes and programmes directed at the age 20 to 34 year age group, which is clearly the biggest percentage of persons on the live register; and the consideration, if any, he has given in this regard. [22304/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

My Department provides a range of employment support services aimed at facilitating and easing the transition from unemployment to employment. The range of employment supports include the back to work allowance, family income supplement, continuation of child dependant payments for 13 weeks after returning to work and the retention of secondary benefits. The back to work allowance scheme has proved to be highly successful in helping long-term unemployed people aged over 23 years to return to work and I was pleased to be able to announce recently an increase of 2,000 in the number of places available under the scheme, bringing the total number now available to 17,000.

My Department also administers a range of education initiatives which enable people aged over 21 years to improve their vocational skills. Second-chance education options include the vocational training opportunities scheme — VTOS — and the third level allowance. There are also second-level and part-time education options for people who may not be able to access VTOS locally or who wish to undertake foundation courses, including literacy training, before advancing to a higher level. While these services are available to all categories who meet the age and other qualifying criteria, they are of course extensively availed of by people in the category mentioned by the Deputy.