Written answers

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

Department of Social Protection

Employment Support Services

10:00 pm

Photo of Dessie EllisDessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that participation in a FÁS course has the effect of making persons ineligible to apply for Tús community employment supervisor vacancies; her views on whether this penalises persons who have been long term unemployed and are making every effort to re-enter the labour force including through re-training and upskilling with FÁS; her further views on whether FÁS training participants who satisfy the other criteria for the TÚS supervisor post should be allowed to apply; and if she will amend the directives issued to the local area partnerships accordingly. [15327/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of Tús is to focus on those people who are long-term unemployed. For this reason, eligibility is at present confined to those on the live register for 12 months and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. These provisions are to ensure a targeted approach to those currently affected by long-term unemployment. Participants will, in the first instance, be identified by the Department of Social Protection by applying the following conditions:

· A person must be unemployed and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for at least 12 months,

· Currently be in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, and

· Be fully unemployed.

Persons already in employment or engaged in community employment or who have engaged in other training activity during which they were not on the live register for the relevant period are not eligible for these positions. The operation of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, will be kept under review and will inform the evaluation process in due course.

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the national internship scheme announced in the jobs initiative is in addition to the skills development and internship programme which was announced in December 2010. [15364/11]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The national internship scheme, which was announced as part of the Jobs Initiative on 10 May, 2011, replaces the skills development and internship programme, which was originally announced as part of Budget 2011 last December. The national internship scheme will provide internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months duration to those seeking employment. These internship opportunities will provide participants with valuable work experience that will develop their skills and enhance their career prospects in a specific area. Under the scheme, eligible participants will receive a weekly top-up of €50 over and above their existing social welfare entitlements. This top-up will be paid by the Department of Social Protection. The purpose of the €50 per week top up is to incentivise individuals to participate in the scheme and to cover their participation costs. The national internship scheme will be launched in July, 2011.

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