Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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205. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons affected by the abolition of the additional training allowance of €20 per week under Budget 2014 for those participating in SOLAS and Youthreach training programmes and VTOS training and education courses. [16374/14]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has assessed the impact of the abolition of the additional training allowance of €20 per week under Budget 2014 for those participating in SOLAS and Youthreach training programmes and VTOS training and education courses on those affected by this measure, particularly on their ability to continue to participate in these training programmes and courses. [16375/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 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 1st January 2014. This change does not apply to persons who commenced a course prior to January 2014 who will continue to receive the long term bonus payment for the duration of their course.

The cessation of the long term bonus payment brings the training allowances paid to participants on SOLAS, Youthreach and VTOS courses into line with participants on other education courses who are in receipt of a Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social Protection. Participants on SOLAS, Youthreach and VTOS courses will continue to receive meal and travel allowances.

It is estimated that 6,500 participants per annum will be affected by this change when it comes into full effect. This is a decision taken in the context of the overall savings this Department had to find for 2014 and future years.