Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding or assistance available to an unemployed person who wishes to take part on a training course which is only given by a private provider. [33291/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Technical Employment Service Grant provides FÁS Employment Service Officers (ESOs) with a flexible fund to provide a tailored response to meet the needs of specific client groups. This support is provided as part of the jobseeker's Action Plan, which is agreed between FÁS and the client as a means of entering/re-entering the labour market. This funding is available to those who are experiencing major barriers to progression from unemployment to the workforce and where this need cannot be met by FÁS directly or by any other state provider within a reasonable timeframe or at a location convenient to the jobseeker. A budget of €1,270 (in exceptional circumstances, up to €2,500) per client can be made available for this purpose.

From January to August 2009, 7,418 clients have availed of TESG funding for a variety of interventions. The total budget in 2008 was €2.5m which increased in 2009 to €6.5m.