Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 April 2019
224. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is participating in Turas Nua is being denied a technical employment support grant, TESG, towards a course which will ensure employment when completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15647/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTESG (Technical Support Grant) is a grant available to customers on internal activation with the Department's Intreo offices and does not apply to customers with JobPath.
Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help overcome barriers to employment and to find jobs. Each person is assigned a personal adviser 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, providing 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).
The customer concerned had been exploring development opportunities with Kerry ETB and informed the JobPath contractor in October 2018 that she had started a part-time barbering course which she has since completed. At a meeting on 28th March 2019, the customer was sourcing hairdressing courses with Skillsnet and Kerry ETB.
No request for funding has been submitted to date by the customer.
