Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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37. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 710 of 14 February 2017, the input his Department had into the Defence Forces employment support scheme; the reports or documentation provided; if data on social welfare recipients was passed to the Department of Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25971/17]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Will the Minister clarify what input his Department had into what has been described as the Defence Forces employment support scheme, what documents or reports have been handed over on which this scheme is based, and what other information has been handed over to the Defence Forces on those in receipt of social welfare?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The 2015 Defence White Paper committed the Government to introducing a new employment support scheme with the direct involvement of the Defence Forces. The Department of Defence has responsibility for the scheme.

Initial discussions with officials from my Department focused on clarifying the objectives of the scheme. The scheme is targeted at young jobseekers experiencing barriers to gaining employment and aims to help them to develop a pathway to economic independence.

More detailed discussions took place with the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board to agree the programme content. The focus is to equip participants with life and employability skills, with five weeks of training delivered by the Defence Forces and five by the ETB.

The main role of my Department is to raise awareness of the programme and identify potentially suitable candidates. Information on selected participants is exchanged with the Defence Forces and the ETB only where necessary and in compliance with all data protection requirements. Candidates supply information directly to the Department of Defence, for example, in relation to Garda vetting and security clearance.

A successful pilot with 25 participants was held in Gormanston Camp last year. A full evaluation of the pilot was conducted and a comprehensive report is available on the Department of Defence website. Following this, it was agreed to deliver two programmes per year, in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The first started in Limerick in May, with 16 participants. Two hundred and sixty young people attended information sessions delivered jointly by officials from my Department and the Defence Forces. It is important to note that participation on this programme is entirely voluntary.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his clarification that the report of the review is available on the website. That is good. I also thank him for the clarification that the programme is voluntary. How are the participants selected? What process is used? Is it a random selection? The Minister confirmed that there is no compulsion. Is there profiling going on of a certain segment of society in this regard? What is the breakdown in terms of gender, men and women? What is this based on? Is there research from a different country? Has this programme been carried out in England, in America or in Europe? Where is this coming from? Whose idea was this, and why the Defence Forces?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I owe the Deputy an apology in answering this question because it is not a programme that I am personally familiar with. It arose out of the 2015 Defence White Paper, which would have been a White Paper produced by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and obviously, the pilot would have occurred and been developed under my predecessor in this Department, the former Minister, Deputy Burton. It is not something that I have been personally involved in or am familiar with.

I am advised that eligible candidates are invited by the Department of Social Protection to attend an information session delivered by my Department's staff and personnel from the Defence Forces. Attendees who express an interest are asked to stay on for a brief ten to 15 minute informal joint interview with an official from the two bodies. The Defence Forces are notified by the Garda vetting bureau after the person has been vetted by the Garda. The Defence Forces then notify the Department of Social Protection that they intend to offer a candidate a place on the programme. The Department of Social Protection then informs the candidate that he or she has been offered a place. The Department of Social Protection informs the education and training board that the candidate has been offered a place and provides it with the contact details of the candidate and his or her PPS number to facilitate registration. The scheme is targeted at those aged 18 to 24 who are on the live register.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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If the Minister does not know, he does not know. I would have concerns in relation to this. This is my third time putting this question. I put it to the Department of Social Protection and I was told it was the wrong Department. I got an answer back from the Defence Forces eventually in relation to it.

I have serious concerns in relation to this scheme, that we are introducing young people who have been targeted at a young age to, and making them aware of, the Defence Forces and a life in the Army.

I have asked the Minister how were they selected and if they selected randomly. Can they ignore this with no penalty? Can they simply ignore the letter of invitation? What is it based on? From where did this come, other than being mentioned in the White Paper? From where did this idea come that the best way to train young people and give them life skills is with the Army? There are serious questions around this.

This has happened already in relation to other schemes the Department has introduced in respect of which there are problems in England. I would like to know what it is based on, where it came from and how they are selected.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As I mentioned, it arises from the White Paper on Defence in 2015. I understand it is based on a programme from New Zealand. It is entirely voluntary. There are no penalties imposed for non-participation in the scheme. It is a ten-week training programme. Essentially, it involves five weeks of training delivered by the Defence Forces and then five weeks of education and training, which is delivered by the local education and training board.

The feedback from participants has been positive. I do not see why the Deputy would suggest that potentially joining the Defence Forces is a bad career option. In my view, it is a good one for those who may be interested in it.