Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
758. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the use of MOMENTUM courses and the progression rates of persons getting work from these courses, the reason there is no extra payments for the purpose of public transport or child care for participants in these courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49531/14]
View answerI am informed by SOLAS, who manage the Momentum Programme, that the breakdown of those who completed a Momentum course is as follows. It should be noted that these figures relate to where course providers could verify with former participants that the following outcomes have been achieved and claim payments for these outcomes under the contracting model. It is likely that the true figures are higher and data from the DSP/SOLAS Client Services System indicates that over 50% of the 6,500 people who started the Momentum Programme (6,500) were signed-off the Live Register in December 2014.
Full Time Employment - 24% of those who completed achieved a full-time job.
Part-Time Employment - 6% achieved part-time employment.
Progression to further education - progression to further education was achieved by 8%.
The awarding of travel allowances to participants on the Momentum Programme was discussed between the relevant Government Departments when the Programme was being designed. In the design of the scheme, consideration was given to the question of additional payments but in the difficult economic circumstances that exist and in order to ensure the best use of scarce resources, it was decided that no additional payments were warranted, other than the retention of social welfare benefits. All participants were entitled to apply for childcare places under the Childcare Education & Training Scheme – which is administered by the Department of Children & Youth Affairs.
