Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons in north County Tipperary waiting on FÁS training schemes; the waiting time for persons due to start these schemes; if the number of staff working in FÁS offices in north Tipperary has increased over the past year; the increase in the numbers of clients seeking assistance this year over the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3502/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that a total of 109 persons are currently waiting to commence training schemes delivered in North Tipperary whilst 60 persons are waiting for schemes that are delivered at the FÁS Training Centre in Limerick. In addition, 100 persons eligible for a Community Employment (CE) scheme are awaiting placement on suitable schemes. Current waiting times vary from one to six months depending on the type of training or employment scheme.

The Live Register has increased from 3,801 in November 2008 to 6,898 in January 2010 in North Tipperary and this is reflected in the demand for FÁS services. During the past year there has not been an increase in the number of staff working in FÁS facilities in North Tipperary.

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 222: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will respond to queries (details supplied) regarding the work placement programme being administered by FÁS. [3587/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Placement Programme provides up to 9 months work experience for 2,000 unemployed individuals. The fact that a person is participating in the Programme does not in itself affect their social welfare entitlements.

Participants on the Live Register must be in receipt of social welfare payments for 3 months if they wish to retain these payments as this gives them the opportunity to pursue employment or further education and training opportunities, prior to seeking the work placement. There is considerable churn on the Live Register and in the last 12-month period 498,229 people left the Live Register with 159,390 of these gaining employment. Given that a large proportion of people leave the Live Register in the first few months, the removal of the Work Placement Programme's 3-month criteria could result in less people leaving the Live Register to take up paid employment.

The Programme offers work experience and does not involve paid employment so there is no obligation for the provider to pay social insurance contributions for the person placed with them.

There are no restrictions on the provider of places if they so wish to provide travel and subsistence support. However, if a provider decides to pay travel and subsistence to a person placed with them, this could be deemed to be more and could affect that participant's social welfare entitlements. The Department of Social and Family Affairs would need to be informed of such payments to participants. Further, these payments might require approval of the Revenue Commission from a taxation perspective.