Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the policy on Local Employment Services Training Support grants, given the difficulties administrators and participants are having in securing places on courses which require payment upfront; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36193/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Local Employment Service (LES) issues grants to jobseekers for short term training and other similar supports. The money allocated for these grants is known as the Mediator Fund. The Mediator Fund provides funding for an individual client up to a limit of €500 in a 12 month period and provided the cost of the intervention does not exceed the limit no cost is incurred by the client. If the cost of training or intervention is greater than the limit or the client has availed of other mediator funding within the year, which cumulatively exceeds the limit, the participant must meet the remainder of the cost. This is agreed with the client at the funding application stage and is not reimbursable by the Department. On completion of the training intervention, mediators review with the client the effectiveness of the support provided.

Payments from the fund are generally made on a reimbursement basis upon production of valid receipts. However, certain courses may require payment up front or a jobseeker may need to purchase certain tools or equipment to enable participation on a course. In such cases the cost is met, in the first instance, by the LES who are in turn reimbursed by the Department. The Department is not aware of any significant issues with these arrangements which have been operating satisfactorily for some time. If the Deputy is aware of a particular case where difficulties have arisen I can arrange for my officials to investigate the matter.