Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places on the Momentum scheme for jobseekers with a disability; the annual cost associated with same; the estimated annual cost of providing 500 extra places on the Momentum scheme for jobseekers with a disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12145/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Momentum programme is open to all long-term unemployed jobseekers, including those with a disability. It should be noted that the programme does not have any ring-fenced places specifically for participants with a disability.

To be eligible to participate in the programme, individuals must have met the following criteria

-Be unemployed for 12 months or longer and

-Be in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit or on the Live Register for 12 months or longer (signing on for Social Insurance Contribution Credits for 12 months or longer) and

- Be actively seeking work.

The current round of Momentum which began in 2014 and is expected to be completed later this year had a total budget allocation of €20 million euro. SOLAS have informed me that the estimated cost of training a participant in the current Momentum programme is approximately €3,200. Based on that figure the cost to increase the number of places in the current round of the Momentum programme by 500 would be €1.6 million.