Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for her response to the priority question. She stated that some external contractors will be appointed to engage with the new staff when they have been trained. It will involve private companies engaging with social welfare claimants. Often that is a results-based contract where contractors are paid according to their success in getting claimants back to work. Similar situations arise in other countries such as Australia and the United States where private contractors have exploited the relationship by cherry-picking claimants most likely to return to work and avoiding the most difficult cases. In this instance, that would defeat the exercise. Could the Minister clarify the situation?

The Minister referred to 1,600 workers from FÁS coming to the Department, in addition to community welfare officers and the training that will be involved in augmenting the new programme. How much funding has been allocated for that purpose? Is there provision for the spend and has it been included in the allocation for the coming year?

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