Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Further Education and Training Strategy: Discussion

2:15 pm

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the question I was going to pose and more ably than I would have. I agree with everything he said. SOLAS works very closely with a wide range or organisations, bodies and Departments. There are people who fell on hard times during the recession and want to retrain but do not qualify for grant aid for a course because their spouses or partners are working. Can anything be done for such persons whose incomes are perhaps €5 or €6 above the threshold and cannot access a particular course? This is related more to the JobBridge programme. People are barred from participating in further education and the issue should be examined.