Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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582. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the consultation which took place with the Defence Forces, on the commitment in the new programme for Government, for a pilot employment support scheme that will be run in conjunction with the Defence Forces; when this programme will be rolled-out and the amount it will cost per year; how participants will be selected for this programme; if concerns have been expressed by the Defence Forces on this proposal, given the high level of professionalism of the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17291/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Government’s commitment to a strengthened approach across the economy to social responsibility, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to introduce a pilot employment support scheme with the direct involvement of the Defence Forces. This commitment was also reflected in the White Paper on Defence, published in August 2015, which sets out the policy framework for the Defence Organisation for the next ten years and beyond.

The objective of this Scheme is to help develop a path to economic independence for participants, aged between 18 and 24 years, who are at a serious disadvantage owing to their current socio-economic situation. The Scheme is designed with the specific aim of equipping participants with life and other marketable and certifiable skills which will assist them both in their capacity to participate fully in society as well as their ability to enter the workforce and or to pursue further education for this purpose.

The scheme and the programme content have been developed through detailed consultation involving the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces, the Department of Social Protection and the Dublin and Dun-Laoghaire Education and Training Board. A work group which includes representatives from each of the aforementioned organisations has developed the detail of the initiative with key stakeholders. Prior to the commencement of the scheme, a meeting was held with both Defence Forces Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA, where a detailed presentation and briefing was provided on the proposal and the content of the scheme and, at which, any questions raised were addressed

The pilot scheme commenced on Monday 20th June 2016 for 28 participants in Gormanston Camp for 10 weeks. The total estimated cost of running the pilot programme is €240,000. Following review of the pilot programme, it will be possible to calculate the actual costs incurred and therefore accurately estimate the cost of the Scheme on an ongoing basis. The success of the pilot scheme will inform the progress of rolling out the scheme. However, it is important to state, that based on current resource constraints, it is anticipated that a maximum of 2 programmes could be run per annum.

The Department of Social Protection identified suitable participants for participation in the pilot scheme. The basic selection criteria applied were that the person must:

- be aged between 18 and 24,

- be unemployed,

- want to take part in the programme, and

- be healthy and physically able to take part in outdoor activities.

Potential candidates were then interviewed by a member of the Defence Forces and an official from Department of Social Protection. Candidates who were successful at interview were then required to pass security vetting and be medically certified as fit to undergo the programme of training by their own civilian GP, prior to the commencement date of the pilot scheme.