Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 31 January 2012, if she will clarify the situation in respect of a scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7681/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government announced in Budget 2012 a reduction in the materials and training allocation for Job Initiative schemes.

For 2012 the grant per place will reduce to €433.33. This will result in a funding reduction for materials/overheads from 8% to 4%. Training will cease to be paid for Job Initiative participants except for training to meet statutory requirements. Any training claimed will be included in the 4% materials/overheads allocation.

The minimum weekly payment to a Job Initiative participant will continue at €416.00. In money terms the materials, overheads and training element of the grant will be reduced to €17.33 per place per week.

Grant aid to the Sponsors to cover supervision of the project will continue on the same scale as CE Supervisors.

I have given assurances to community and voluntary organisations that no project will be forced to close as a result of the reductions in training and material grants, pending the completion of a review at the end of March.

Department officials have discretion in assisting projects meet their commitments, subject to individual schemes providing a clear and transparent demonstration of a need for additional funding. The onus is on sponsors to make the case for the appropriate level of the grant for their individual scheme. The level of grant sought will have to be justified by the scheme sponsor and will be subject to verification and agreement by the Department on a case by case basis. Our Officers are currently working with Sponsors to this end.