Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason she is committed to employment schemes that only allow persons who are in receipt of social welfare payments to participate; if she will open up any schemes or programmes being put forward by the Government to be available to all persons who are unemployed and not to discriminate against those who do not receive a State payment, many of whom possess excellent untapped skills and experience which may otherwise be lost; and if the present position is at variance with European law. [9194/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department operates a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients of working age to reduce their dependency on welfare payments. In the main, to qualify for participation on these schemes an applicant must, inter alia, be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum specified period. In general, activation policies operate under the principles adopted in the National Employment Action Programme (NEAP) introduced in response to the European Employment Strategy. The focus of the NEAP is on engagement with those on the Live Register in order to provide a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education so that they can avail of employment opportunities as the economy improves. The requirement to be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period has always been a feature of the employment support schemes and this is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those most in need. There are schemes such as the Back to Education Allowance scheme which is available to persons signing on the Live Register for PRSI credits which entitles them to the cost of education allowance of €500.

The Deputy may also wish to note that persons who are unemployed, redundant or who have left full-time education and are preparing to enter / re-enter the labour market are eligible to participate on FÁS training programmes.

The EU regulations on social security apply to benefits covering particular contingencies such as unemployment and illness. They are designed to ensure that people are not disadvantaged by a decision to move residence or stay temporarily in another Member state in terms of losing social security rights. However, this EU legislation does not override the social security systems of the Member states, it merely co-ordinates these. The Department's operation of employment schemes is in line with EU law.

The operation of my Department's employment support measures, in the context of current labour market conditions, is continually monitored to ensure that it continues to support those people who are the most distant from the labour market and whose needs are greatest.