Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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591. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason persons in receipt of carer's allowance are not eligible for a grant (details supplied) in view of the fact they are able to work 15 hours per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13883/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Technical Employment Support Grant (TESG) now known as the Training Support Grant (TSG) is designed to fund quick access to short term training or related interventions, obtain/renew certification/permits for individual jobseekers looking to exit the live register. The grant is awarded where Case Officers have identified an immediate skills gap that represents an obstacle to taking up a job offer or accessing other activation interventions.

The TSG scheme is not designed to substitute training and activation measures that are provided under other programmes and agencies (Solas/Education Training Boards) or actions that are funded as part of other programmes.

The objective of the TSG Scheme is to provide Case Officers with financial resources to respond to identified training needs of Jobseekers that are focused on obtaining work, in line with their agreed personal progression plan.

While the primary focus of the scheme is on jobseekers and on supporting the activation policy of the Department, TSG may be used to support a person in receipt of Carer’s Allowance to secure employment and to assist jobseekers exiting the Carer’s Allowance scheme.