Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the pro-active measures currently undertaken by his Department to discourage welfare dependence among teenagers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26263/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Since the early 1990's my Department has been developing its policy to move from largely passive income support provision to a more active social welfare system. Under the National Employment Action Plan all persons, including the young unemployed, who are approaching 3 months on the Live Register are identified by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and referred to FÁS for interview with a view to job placement or an offer of training.

My Department also has a number of specific employment and training incentives available to encourage and facilitate people, including young people on welfare to take up available work or training options. These include the Back to Work and Back to Education Allowances, as well as income disregards on means tested payments such as lone parents allowance and disability allowance. Recipients of disability schemes may undertake employment of a rehabilitative nature in certain circumstances.

In addition my Department's Social and Family Support Service (SFSS), through the facilitator network, assists people most marginalised in social and economic terms, including, in some instances teenagers, and gives much help by way of intensive training, counselling and other supports to groups at risk of developing long-term welfare dependency. Examples of some of the initiatives for young people supported by my department include:

Support for a training and educational programme for young mothers in Carlow.

Support in respect of a training project for young school leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds in the South Leitrim area.

Contribution in respect of a training project for a group of early school leavers based in Sligo. Participants are from disadvantaged backgrounds, a number have been involved in anti-social behaviour in their communities.

The projects are usually supported on an interagency basis and the aim is to identify barriers to progression and support the participants to further education, training and work. My Department sees the funding provided as a means of supporting innovative responses to increasing employability and tackling social inclusion.

With regard to young people in receipt of other contingency-based payments; the impact of the payment of Disability Allowance (DA) from age 16 on retention rates in second level education was recently examined by the Department and the conclusion reached was that DA does not have a significant effect in encouraging early school leaving and may in fact promote second level retention among the majority of young people with disabilities.

The Government discussion paper, "Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents," put forward proposals for the expanded availability and range of education and training opportunities for lone parents. It is important to note that activation, as referred to in the proposal, is 'positive' in nature; it encompasses interview/advice meetings, access to education and training and providing people with the skills to enable them to achieve financial independence and therefore, a better life for themselves and their children.

Furthermore, under the social partnership agreement "Towards 2016" and the National Development Plan 2007-2013 my Department is committed to the introduction of an innovative programme of activation measures aimed at all people of working age, including young people on welfare payments. The particular added value that will be provided by my Department is an active outcome-focused individual case management of all social welfare customers of working age who are not progressing into employment or accessing training or education opportunities.