Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the allocation, with subsequent out-turn, for the Special Initiative for travellers, FAS SIT, for each year 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; the allocation for 2013; and the number of Traveller participants for each year. [7404/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Special Initiative for Travellers (SIT) was introduced in 2005 to provide support for practical approaches to redressing the imbalance in Traveller under-employment, to support Travellers already engaged in the Traveller economy and provide other supports, including training, to address the needs of Travellers. Responsibility for the programme transferred from FÁS to the Department of Social Protection on 1st January 2012. The programme focused on providing job search, job coaching and other supports for individual Travellers, and assisting with enterprise development. Data reported by FÁS for 2008 to 2011 is set out in the table.

The implementation of the SIT underwent a significant change in 2011 resulting in a broad number of the actions being integrated into the core work of the contracting agents with a reduction in the level of expenditure. The funding provision for 2012 was €750,000 with the final outturn likely to be similar to 2011. The numbers of claims and Travellers supported in 2012 are currently being finalised. The provision for 2013 is €750,000.