I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.
The payment of an additional training allowance of €20 per week for the long term unemployed was introduced during a period of high employment levels as an incentive for the long term unemployed to participate in FÁS (now SOLAS), Youthreach and VTOS training and education courses. In the present economic situation this incentive is no longer considered appropriate and as part of Budget 2014 it was decided to cease this payment for participants commencing courses after 1 January 2014. This is a decision taken in the context of the overall savings this Department had to find for 2014 and future years. The implementation of this decision should not have any impact on the number of projects, including traveller projects, or places being provided in 2014.