John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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985. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications made under the activation and family support programme since its introduction; the percentage of those accepted and declined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12650/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Family Services Project (FSP) and Special Projects Fund (SPF) were amalgamated in January 2008 to form the Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP). The AFSP is delivered regionally by Divisional Case Officers. The Department works alongside other State agencies to deliver training to those most distant from the labour market through the AFSP. The AFSP represents one of a number programmes comprising the Department’s overall implementation of activation policies.

The objective of the AFSP is to provide funding for programmes to assist individuals and families to enhance their employability through education, training and personal development opportunities and to improve their quality of life. Payments under AFSP are only made to an organisation following a approval of an application by the Case Officer and Area/Divisional Manager. No additional allowances or payments for expenses are paid to individual participants of training through AFSP.

In broad terms Case Officers are involved in promoting awareness of the AFSP, assisting applicant organisations to access funds from the programme, and in monitoring the effectiveness of the funding provided and ongoing liaison with recipients of funding.

The following table details the volume of courses delivered, in communities, through AFSP since 2008:

The application of the funds is largely responsive, in that as needs are identified by local Case Officers and agencies a course may be considered. There are no records maintained on rejected proposals as many of these will not make an application following the initial assessment by a Case Officer working with other agencies to evaluate the options available to assist those with a training need.