Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when adequate funding services will be made available to County Kildare Local Employment Service Network Limited, for the purpose of progressing its clients into agreed training options, to enable them to update their skills and acquire accreditation, to allow them to return to employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7954/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There has been no reduction in the level of funding allocated for the Local Employment Service (LES) for 2015 and there has been no reduction in the funding allocation of any individual LES. The Deputy may be referring to a change to the funding of support grants that are provided to jobseekers to assist them with certain minor costs involved in getting back to work but the level of such funding in 2015 remains unchanged. Up until 31st December 2014, the LES had access to two funds i.e. the Technical Support Grant Fund and the Mediator Fund. From 1 January 2015, the LES has access to a single fund (Mediator Fund) but the level of funding provided has been increased to an amount equivalent to the combined LES expenditure in 2014 from both funds. The Mediator Fund has been allocated across LES contractors on the basis of the number of clients with whom they are contracted to engage in 2015.