Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans to increase the rate of training bonus paid by FÁS to trainees who are regarded as socially disadvantaged or people with disabilities in vocational training; when this rate was last increased; if she will review the policy of not increasing the training bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27075/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The training bonus was introduced as a special initiative to introduce an additional allowance for the following categories of people who were on, or commenced, a FÁS training course on or after 19 April 1999:

Persons in receipt of Jobseeker Benefit or Jobseeker Allowance for 12 months or more or

Persons who progress to FÁS training having completed a minimum of 12 months on a Community Employment programme or

Persons who progress to FÁS training having completed a minimum of 12 months on the Job Initiative programme;

Disabled persons not in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension.

Persons who have completed a minimum period of 12 months in a combination of the above categories (i.e. in receipt of Jobseeker Benefit/Allowance, on Community Employment or Job Initiative programmes) prior to progressing to a FÁS training course are eligible for the bonus.

At the time of its introduction, no inflation proofing element was built into the bonus and none was envisaged.

I understand that all FÁS trainees receive the FÁS training allowance (currently €197.80 for trainees over 18 years of age) and this increases annually in line with increases in social welfare entitlements. The training bonus of €31.80 is payable to eligible trainees on FÁS mainline training courses and also to people with disabilities in training with Specialist Training Providers monitored by FÁS.