Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 471: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if individuals can receive funding under the European Globalisation Fund while receiving jobseeker's benefit and allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31482/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms associated with the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), it is not envisaged in general that any monies from the fund will be paid directly to workers. Therefore, the social welfare entitlements of the former workers will not be affected as no money will be directly received. Instead funding is being channelled through the relevant State agencies and educational institutions to deliver the required supports to eligible redundant workers.

In this way, workers being supported under the EGF may continue to receive welfare support while attending education or training courses under the Back to Education (BTEA) schemes operated by the Department of Social Protection. Subject to scheme criteria, BTEA participants attending an approved full-time course can continue to receive welfare support for the duration of that course (which may be a number of years). Those who participate in an approved part-time course can receive welfare support for as long as they would ordinarily be entitled to a jobseekers payment (9-12 months in the case of those on Jobseekers Benefit, or longer for those who qualify for the means-tested Jobseekers Allowance). These provisions equally apply to workers studying HETAC or FETAC accredited third level courses at private colleges.