Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 February 2018
583. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons on the JobPath scheme who have availed of the training support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5501/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Training Support Grant (TSG) previously known as the Technical Employment Support Grant (TESG) is funded by my department. TSG is designed to facilitate quick access to short-term training where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time or where an intervention is identified that can support individual jobseekers to access work opportunities.
JobPath participants do not have access to the Training Support Grant while participating on the JobPath service.
Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help overcome barriers to employment and to find jobs. Each person is assigned a personal advisor who assesses their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and agrees a “personal progression plan” that includes a schedule of activities, including relevant training and educational programmes to assist them in finding full-time sustainable employment. There are no barriers to any participants pursuing training, including further education and training courses, provided they are relevant to the agreed personal progression plan.
The JobPath providers arrange for the delivery of a broad range of education and training courses with a particular and strong focus on upskilling the long term unemployed. Both JobPath providers have their own discretionary funds available to pay for these training courses. Some of these courses are provided in-house while others are provided by specialist training providers including the Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
In addition, JobPath participants may also apply for the Back to Education Allowance Scheme in order to pursue second and third level courses.
