As outlined to the Deputy in the reply to his parliamentary Question No. 352 on Wednesday, 31st October, 2007, my Department provides a wide range of second chance education opportunities to facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force.
My Department's employment support measures, in the context of current labour market conditions, are continually monitored to ensure that they continue to support those people who are the most distant from the labour market and whose needs are greatest. However, at this stage it is not proposed to make any further changes to the qualifying criteria.