Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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758. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the use of Momentum courses and the progression rates of persons getting work from these courses, the reason there is no extra payments for the purpose of public transport or child care for participants in these courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49531/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I am informed by SOLAS, who manage the Momentum Programme, that the breakdown of those who completed a Momentum course is as follows. It should be noted that these figures relate to where course providers could verify with former participants that the following outcomes have been achieved and claim payments for these outcomes under the contracting model. It is likely that the true figures are higher and data from the DSP/SOLAS Client Services System indicates that over 50% of the 6,500 people who started the Momentum Programme (6,500) were signed-off the Live Register in December 2014.

Full Time Employment - 24% of those who completed achieved a full-time job.

Part-Time Employment - 6% achieved part-time employment.

Progression to further education - progression to further education was achieved by 8%.

The awarding of travel allowances to participants on the Momentum Programme was discussed between the relevant Government Departments when the Programme was being designed. In the design of the scheme, consideration was given to the question of additional payments but in the difficult economic circumstances that exist and in order to ensure the best use of scarce resources, it was decided that no additional payments were warranted, other than the retention of social welfare benefits. All participants were entitled to apply for childcare places under the Childcare Education & Training Scheme – which is administered by the Department of Children & Youth Affairs.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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759. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the difficulties persons may have being forced on to Momentum courses while not being able to afford the cost of getting to class for the placement; if she will indicate the use of these courses in the Dún Laoghaire area, the practice of the Department of Social Protection Intreo centre and local employment services having to meet targets and quotas to fill these places; and the number of persons in the Dún Laoghaire constituency currently in placements in Momentum courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49533/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The awarding of travel allowances to participants on the Momentum Programme was discussed between the relevant Government Departments when the Programme was being designed. In the design of the scheme, consideration was given to the question of additional payments but in the difficult economic circumstances that exist and in order to ensure the best use of scarce resources, it was decided that no additional payments were warranted beyond the retention of social welfare benefits.

I understand that there are no Momentum projects scheduled for or running in the Dun Laoghaire area. Two projects for 46 participants are running/scheduled in the adjoining D4 and D18 areas.

The distribution of Momentum places takes account of both employment opportunities and patterns of unemployment throughout the country. In this second round of Momentum, SOLAS and the Department of Social Protection have worked together closely on course recruitment and have put in place arrangements that enable unemployed people to be appropriately matched with programmes that meet their needs. This includes a course briefing with the course provider and an initial three week trial period where participants can familiarise themselves with the course. In addition, many participants find the course they are interested in directly through www.momentumskills.ie and arrange referral through their local INTREO Office. The question of placement practices at the level of local INTREO offices is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.