Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 373: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the technical employment support grant; the number of persons who availed of this scheme for each of the years 2007 to date in 2012; the maximum funding available; the relevant qualifying criteria; if there is an appeals mechanism which may be in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26829/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The technical employment support grant (TESG) can be made available to jobseekers who have registered with the Employment Service and undertaken a guidance process leading to an agreed career plan, and who are in receipt of certain specified welfare payments, primarily jobseekers' and lone parent payments as well as payments related to disability and long-term illness. TESG is designed to support a person to overcome identified barriers in progressing from unemployment to employment. The grant can be used to purchase of training (where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time) or for certain other expenditures such as purchase of tools, travel costs to job interviews. Training, with limited exceptions, must be on certified courses. TESG meets the full costs of these supports up to €500 per jobseeker. If, following the provision of the reason for a decision, a person, or service provider, remains dissatisfied with the decision and explanation, a review of the decision may be sought in which case the application is re-examined by a more senior officer not involved in the original decision. Information on the number of persons who availed of the TESG in each of the years 2007 to date in 2012 is set out in the table below.

TABLE: TESG Applications for the period 2007 to end May 2012

1 The number of grants approved and completed in 2007 and 2008 was not recorded in a central database. The figures stated are estimates based on actual expenditure and a review of the programme at that time.

2 From 2009 TESG reporting has been on the basis of the number of grants approved and completed (subsequently availed of) as individuals may have received more than one grant up to the maximum grant amount available.

3 Figures for 2012 relate to the period to the end March 2012.