Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 83: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the additional supports that have been given to job facilitators to deal with the increased demand for access to support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27909/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department's facilitators work with people in receipt of jobseeker's payments, people parenting alone, people in receipt of disability welfare payments and people providing care, to promote participation and social inclusion.

Facilitators work with social welfare recipients to identify appropriate training or development programmes which will enhance the skills that the individual has and ultimately improve their employment chances, as well as help them to continue to develop personally. Facilitators who are located throughout the country, covering defined geographical areas develop individual progression plans with the customer. They work closely with FÁS and other agencies at a local level to identify and target appropriate education, training and development opportunities.

In the current economic climate the demand for the facilitator service is elevated. The facilitator service was enhanced under the National Development Plan (NDP) Social and Economic Participation Programme. Twenty three additional facilitators have been appointed since September 2008 bringing the number currently serving to 63 and a further 7 are due for appointment.

A formal targeted programme of activation was introduced under the National Development Plan (NDP) under which the Department actively selects cases for referral to facilitators. Over 22,000 cases were referred to facilitators during 2009.

Facilitators may assist welfare recipients with grants under the technical assistance and training scheme up to a maximum of €1,000. The grant is targeted towards certain business start-up expenses of clients in receipt of the back to work enterprise allowance scheme. The fund is designed to enhance the person's prospects of succeeding in becoming independent of the social welfare system through support for training in the areas of starting a business, book-keeping/accounts, preparation of business plans, marketing, literacy and computer training or assistance with the purchase of small items of equipment. A total of €3.5m was spent under the technical assistance and training scheme in 2009.