Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason persons currently on disability benefit who could benefit from further training are not eligible for the labour market activation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41846/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Labour Market Activation Fund sought proposals from organisations for the creation of full or part-time training and education provision targeting specific priority groups among the unemployed, namely - the low skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors such as construction, retail and manufacturing sectors, with particular emphasis on the under 35's and the long-term unemployed (i.e. unemployed for at least one year).

For the purposes of this Fund, prospective participants on programmes eligible for Fund support must be jobseeker's who have been in receipt of an unemployment payment for a period of at least three consecutive months. Everyone who satisfies this criteria, including anyone who has a disability, is eligible to participate.

Eligibility criteria for individual social welfare payments is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.