Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2015
220. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there is a travel allowance available to participants on the MOMENTUM scheme; the steps taken by her Department to ensure participants are not placed under undue financial hardship due to their engagement with this initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2798/15]
View answerWhen designing the MOMENTUM initiative, consideration was given to the question of additional payments to participants. However, in the prevailing economic circumstances and in order to ensure the best use of limited resources, a decision was reached to provide income support to eligible participants through my Department’s Back to Education Allowance scheme which does not cover travel expenses.
MOMENTUM programmes assist unemployed jobseekers to gain in-demand skills and to access work in sectors of the economy where there are job opportunities. Access to MOMENTUM is exclusively through Case Officers in my Department’s INTREO Centres and Mediators in the Local Employment Services under contract to my Department. Eligible clients are supported to access the most appropriate programme, taking account of their personal requirements and circumstances, including training needs and geographical location. An initial induction module on each programme provides an opportunity to reaffirm course suitability or exploration of alternative options where appropriate.
