Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare is only receiving a portion of their training allowance while participating on a FÁS course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40230/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The FÁS training allowance paid to those in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance is generally aligned to the amount of the persons Jobseekers Allowance payment as determined by the Department of Social Protection which is subject to means testing. The FÁS training allowance is paid to participants in lieu of Jobseekers Allowance for the duration of the training course.

The majority of Jobseeker's Allowance recipients under 25 years of age are entitled to a reduced jobseeker's rate of either €100 or €144 per week.

As part of Budget 2013, it was decided to provide an incentive to those persons under 25 in receipt of the reduced rate of Jobseekers Allowance by increasing their weekly FÁS training allowance to €160. Increasing the maximum weekly rate that under 25s can receive when they engage in education and training encourages participation rates among this cohort which is a particular concern at EU and local level.