Vol. 512 No. 6
368 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused an extra training allowance of £25 per week on VTOS in view of the fact that she was unemployed prior to commencing the course; and her full entitlements. [26604/99]
369 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused an extra training allowance of £25 per week on VTOS in view of the fact that she was unemployed prior to commencing the course; and her full entitlements. [26605/99]
370 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person in County Mayo was refused an extra training allowance £25 per week on VTOS in view of the fact that she was unemployed prior to commencing the course; and her full entitlements. [26606/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369 and 370 together.
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, i.e. at least 12 months continuously unemployed. This allowance was later approved for eligible VTOS participants who had been in receipt of their respective payment for at least 12 months also on the same basis prior to joining VTOS.
The students referred to in the questions have not been on the live register for the required length of time to be eligible to receive this bonus payment.
The bonus was introduced as an incentive to encourage greater participation of the long-term unemployed in education and training programmes. The effect of the incentive in prioritising access for long-term unemployed would be dissipated if the bonus were applied equally to all participants.
