Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reasons for different payments and allowances paid to those awarded education and or training grants while participating on different schemes such as Tús and community employment administered by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14558/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Both Tús and Community Employment (CE) focus on those who are long-term unemployed, with the aim of improving the employability and work readiness of participants. Tús differs from CE in that the latter contains accredited training components as part of a work placement. The payments made to participants on CE, Tús, Gateway and the Rural Social Scheme have been standardised for some time.

Tús, Gateway and CE are part of a suite of interventions the Department funds and are designed to meet the priorities established by the Government in Pathways to Work. In terms of up-skilling jobseekers, the Department provides income support for training and education mainly under the Back to Education programme. This provides for the payment of allowances to enable a jobseeker to undertake full-time education and training at second and third level. The value of these allowances are broadly similar to those paid under the relevant qualifying scheme (jobseekers allowance or similar). The programme also supports a part-time education option and the education, training and development option.