Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [25874/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An application was received from the person concerned on 15 April 2011. All the necessary investigations relating to her claim have been made and a decision will be completed shortly. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for carer's allowance will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly. [25883/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Part 3 of the Social Welfare and Pension Act 2010 provides for the full transfer of the employment services and community services programmes of FÁS to the Minister for Social Protection and for the integration of FÁS staff managing these programmes into the Department of Social Protection. That process of integration is currently underway. SOLAS has been announced by the Minister for Education and Skills as the new State training agency to take over the skills development and training programmes currently delivered by FÁS. The training component, and associated budget, of the community employment programme will remain with the Department of Social Protection.

As with all programmes and schemes, community employment will be considered in the context of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review which is currently being finalised and may be affected by decisions made by the Government in its determination of the conclusion of that review. Additionally, I have already indicated that I will be looking at all programmes and schemes supporting those who are unemployed to see if they can be made more responsive to the needs of the individual in preparing them for a return to the labour market generally.