John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rules and regulations in relation to persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit taking up a FÁS course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5400/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Clients access FÁS training programmes through FÁS Employment Services offices and following a guidance interview with an Employment Services Officer. People who are in receipt of the Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) receive a FÁS training allowance equivalent to the rate payable under JB.

FÁS has considerably expanded its range of training programmes and the number of places available through the introduction of a number of short-term courses and an increased provision of online, blended and evening programmes. Unemployed people from the following cohorts are accorded priority access:

People with low skills or education levels, i.e. unemployed people who do not have a Leaving Certificate qualification or equivalent;

People who are on the Live Register for long periods (over one year) — this includes people who are in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit for one year or longer;

People who are under 35 years of age, with at least 30% of training places reserved for those aged under 25 years;

People who were previously employed in sectors that have been most affected by restructuring and where recovery to near previous levels is not in prospect in the short to medium term (mainly construction, manufacturing and wholesale/retail trade).

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rules and regulations in relation to persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance taking up a FÁS course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5401/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Clients access FÁS training programmes through FÁS Employment Services offices and following a guidance interview with an Employment Services Officer. People who are in receipt of the Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) receive a FÁS training allowance equivalent to the full rate payable under JA.

FÁS has considerably expanded its range of training programmes and the number of places available through the introduction of a number of short-term courses and an increased provision of online, blended and evening programmes. Unemployed people from the following cohorts are accorded priority access:

People with low skills or education levels, i.e. unemployed people who do not have a Leaving Certificate qualification or equivalent;

People who are on the Live Register for long periods (over one year) — this includes people who are in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit for one year or longer;

People who are under 35 years of age, with at least 30% of training places reserved for those aged under 25 years;

People who were previously employed in sectors that have been most affected by restructuring and where recovery to near previous levels is not in prospect in the short to medium term (mainly construction, manufacturing and wholesale/retail trade).

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rate of payment for an adult on a FÁS training course when that person has an underlying entitlement to a reduced rate of jobseeker's allowance; and the way this has changed since 2009. [5420/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS allowances are payable to qualifying participants in full even if the social welfare payable prior to the commencement of the training course has been at a reduced rate. There has been no change in this procedure since 2009.