Vol. 512 No. 3
313 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the training bonus of £25 per week issued to VTOS students; and the reason this was issued only to those unemployed and on the live register for one or more years prior to the course when the regulations and requirements of the course are for a six month period. [26035/99]
In April of this year, a training bonus of £25 per week was introduced for FÁS participants who were registered as long-term unemployed prior to starting their programme, that is at least 12 months unemployed. This allowance was later approved for eligible VTOS participants, including lone parents and those on disability allowance who have been in receipt of their respective payment for at least 12 months also on the same basis.
The bonus was introduced as an incentive to encourage greater participation of the long-term unemployed in education and training programmes. Periods spent on community employment or job initiative schemes may be combined with periods of unemployment for the purpose of meeting the qualifying criteria for the bonus.
The effect of the incentive in prioritising access for the long-term unemployed would be dissipated if the bonus were applied equally to all participants.
