Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 5

Written Answers. - FÁS Training Programmes.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

71 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the changes, if any, made recently for long-term unemployed people on FÁS training courses; the number which will benefit from the changes made; if any of these long-term unemployed will be worse off as a result of recent changes in the payment of allowances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12245/99]

Nora Owen

Ceist:

77 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the changes, if any, made recently for long-term unemployed people on FÁS training courses; the number which will benefit from changes made; if any of these long-term unemployed will be worse off as a result of recent changes in the payment of allowances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12340/99]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 77 together.

A training bonus of £25 per week for long-term unemployed people on FÁS training courses was introduced on a pilot basis with effect from 19 April 1999.

The bonus is payable to trainees who were on the live register for 12 months or more before commencing training with FÁS. People who progress to such training from community employ ment will also be eligible for the bonus, provided they were on the live register for 12 months or more immediately prior to commencing community employment.

The bonus, which is being introduced on a pilot basis for 12 months, is payable in addition to the individual's normal training allowance entitlement and will represent a genuine increase in the training allowances paid to long-term unemployed people.

The employment action plan, which commenced in September 1998, provides systematic intervention with unemployed people with the objective of re-integrating them into the labour market as quickly as possible. Under the employment action plan, unemployed persons will be offered training, re-training, job placement and other employability measures by FÁS. The plan is being extended this year to include people on the live register for 12 months or more. The extension of the employment action plan will result in more long-term unemployed people being offered training by FÁS.

Having regard to the numbers of people on existing FÁS schemes and the numbers of long-term unemployed people who may be incentivised to undertake training, it has been estimated that up to 11,000 people could benefit from the allowance.