Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the funding available from the case officers in the Intreo offices for all courses, for example, fork-lift training, Further Education and Training Awards Council, FETAC, courses and so on; and if any of this training, being funded, is subject to having a job secured, prior to funding being approved. [7843/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Training Support Grant (TSG) is designed to fund quick access to short-term training where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time or where a intervention is identified that can support individual jobseekers to access work opportunities. It is important to note that the scheme is not designed to provide general training for jobseekers. Access to the scheme is via the Department’s case officers who are tasked with identifying support interventions for jobseekers, particularly where a job opportunity has been identified or where an intervention will enable an application for work to be made.

The scheme is activation focused and the jobseeker is required to provide reasonable evidence or grounds of need (for example in the form of a potential job offer) or a requirement to maintain or achieve accreditation, for example, safe pass, certain certification such as required for the catering sector (HACCP) or the security industry permit.

The maximum fund available to jobseekers under the scheme is €500 p.a. The training sought by the jobseeker, such as fork lift training and FETAC courses, must form part of the agreed personal progression or action plan for the individual to enter/re-enter the labour market.