Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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291. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the pilot employment support scheme took place in 2016; the skills and training identifiable with the Defence Forces that were transferred to the participants; if these skills have enhanced the education of the participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38977/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Programme for Partnership Government and the White Paper on Defence the pilot Defence Forces employment support scheme ran from Monday 20th June 2016 to Friday 26^thAugust 2016 in Gormanston Camp with 25 participants. It encompassed an innovative training programme of 10 weeks duration, consisting of 5 weeks of training by the Defence Forces interspersed with 5 weeks of education-orientated training by the Baldoyle Training Centre of the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB). The scheme provided participants with new skills, knowledge, competencies and self-development that have enhanced their capacity to pursue employment, work experience or further educational opportunities.

The skills and training provided by the Defence Forces encouraged personal achievement and hard work. The aim was to develop social and team skills, increased self-confidence, self-discipline, self-motivation and self-worth, and increased levels of physical fitness and physical fitness education. The training provided by the DDLETB aimed to develop interpersonal communication, team-working, career development and job-seeking skills.

On completion of the programme the participants received certificates which should improve their prospects of securing employment or further education. These included:

- A joint certificate from the Defence Forces and the Department of Social Protection that the participant has successfully completed the course;

- A Basic Medical Training certificate;

- A Manual Handling Training certificate;

- A Certificate on Food Safety Management;

- City & Guilds Credits for Word Processing, Using the Internet and for Using E-mail;

- A SOLAS Safe Pass. Safe Pass is a one-day safety awareness programme which is required of all construction site workers.

General reports from psychological screening carried out by Ballymun Jobs Centre following completion of the pilot scheme coupled with feedback from participants showed that the programme exerted a strong, positive and lasting influence on them. As at 14^thNovember 2016,3 of the participants were in full- time employment and 6 were in full-time education.