Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the technical assistance and training scheme in each of the past five years with a breakdown by categories of expenditure; the number of beneficiaries covered in each of these years and will he provide any information he has on any reviews of the effectiveness of the scheme [39601/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The technical assistance and training scheme allows the Department of Social Protection to provide support to back to work enterprise allowance recipients who are engaging in self employment projects to enhance their chances of success to become independent of the social welfare system. This is a discretionary scheme and there is not an entitlement to the technical assistance and training scheme as of right. The fund can also be used to provide support to other social welfare customers who may require assistance in accessing the labour market or who are trying to establish an enterprise and need training or other supports.

The maximum amount of TAT available to an individual is €1,000 per annum. The customer must make a minimum contribution of 25% towards the total cost of equipment and where feasible towards the cost of other services.

The following table shows the annual expenditure on the scheme and number of beneficiaries from 2006 to end of September 2010 (ncl.)