John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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269. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new training rates of €193 per week for young persons under 26 years of age announced in budget 2017 will commence and be paid to recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34931/16]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the new training rates of €193 per week for young persons under 26 years of age will apply to all persons on the various training programmes, irrespective of when they commenced the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34932/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together.

The training allowances, funded by my Department through SOLAS, paid to participants on Further Education and Training courses are based on Department of Social Protection payment rates. The increase to €193 per week for jobseekers aged under 26, announced in Budget 2017, will be paid from September 2017 to all eligible participants on Further Education and Training courses in line with the Department of Social Protection Back to Education Allowance increase.

Participants means are taken into account in deciding the level of payment to those in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance and this will also apply to participants on Further Education and Training courses.