Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on schemes that lone parents may access to gain training, education and work experience; her plans to extend eligibility to lone parents to any schemes to which they are currently not eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13723/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The principal scheme operated by the Department that covers work experience, training and education is the Community Employment scheme. Lone parents are one of the target cohorts for this scheme.

Other schemes operated by the Department include the Tús programme which is aimed specifically at long-term unemployed persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance (but not lone parents) and the Rural Social Scheme, which is open to persons who meet the programme eligibility requirements which can include those in receipt of one parent family payment.

While there are no plans to extend lone parent eligibility to the Tús programme at this point in time, all existing employment programmes and supports are being reviewed. This review, which will include eligibility criteria, will be completed by the end of March.