Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that cuts recently introduced in the budget have resulted in the training allowance being removed which will impact severely on traveller projects at St. Margaret's, Finglas, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9762/14]

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of projects that will be lost and the number of participants who will lose their places due to cuts in the training allowance particularly those involved in Traveller projects; and if he will work to avoid these negative effects. [9763/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.

The payment of an additional training allowance of €20 per week for the long term unemployed was introduced during a period of high employment levels as an incentive for the long term unemployed to participate in FÁS (now SOLAS), Youthreach and VTOS training and education courses. In the present economic situation this incentive is no longer considered appropriate and as part of Budget 2014 it was decided to cease this payment for participants commencing courses after 1 January 2014. This is a decision taken in the context of the overall savings this Department had to find for 2014 and future years. The implementation of this decision should not have any impact on the number of projects, including traveller projects, or places being provided in 2014.