Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2013
93. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to assist unemployed persons who are unable to avail of social assistance payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10957/13]
View answerGiven the scale of the unemployment crisis, the key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those most in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services provided by the Department are focused in the first instance on this cohort of unemployed people. It is recognised that not all unemployed people are dependent on the State for financial support and some services (for example assistance with jobsearch activities, use of online job search tools) are also available to such people if they register with the Department’s employment services offices. Unemployed persons not in receipt of payments may also be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities, for example through FÁS training, but are not eligible to receive a training allowance while undertaking such training.
