Vol. 568 No. 1
192 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to change or restructure the methods of payment to people on FÁS training courses who are in receipt of social welfare payments and a training allowance; the changes she intends to make; the timeframe involved in such changes; the numbers of people who will be affected by such changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15262/03]
FÁS is committed to ensuring that its programmes and services are delivered in a flexible and customer-friendly fashion, so as to allow maximum access to all FÁS opportunities. In January 2001, the board of FÁS endorsed a strategic review process for FÁS. In this regard FÁS is examining many aspects of its operations and has just recently began exploring options with regard to the restructuring of the methods of payment to people on training courses who are in receipt of social welfare payments and a training allowance.
As part of this review, FÁS has commenced discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs on possible new approaches regarding payments to persons on FÁS training programmes who are in receipt of DSFA payments. There are currently a number of FÁS clients who receive both a FÁS training allowance and a DSFA payment, including one parent families, persons on disability and persons on invalidity pension. In 2002 the number of persons who started FÁS programmes in these three categories was 17,810.
