Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the reinstatement of the training allowance paid to persons in SOLAS-funded training programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4436/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The payment of an additional training allowance of €31.80 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 Education and Training Board) training courses. The former FAS training provision was transferred from SOLAS to the Education and Training Boards during 2014. The payment was reduced from €31.80 per week to €20 per week as part of Budget 2011. 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 all Education and Training Board participants commencing courses after 1st January 2014. Travel supports continue to be available to these Education and Training Board participants where appropriate.

This is a decision taken in the context of the overall savings this Department had to find for 2014 and future years. It was taken against a difficult budgetary background and there is no scope to re-visit it.