Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

For example, a person going on the live register on 31 October would be ineligible for a college course which commences in September or early October next year because he or she will not have been in receipt of the relevant social welfare benefits for one year. People are having to wait a month short of two years to fulfil the criteria for eligibility for the course. This needs to be addressed.

The Minister must also address the small number of people eligible under the redundancy rules and the employment action plan. Two thirds of those coming on the live register must wait one year before they can go on to third level education. I accept the six months' criteria for second level but that is little comfort to those who want to go into third level education. Will this be re-examined for the coming year or will it be left as it is for now?

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