Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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259. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in receipt of jobseeker's benefit will be facilitated to undertake a taxi driver training course through one of two possible organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26937/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is awarded Jobseeker's Allowance from 5 November 2018.

The person concerned was referred to the Jobpath programme on 4 March 2019 for activation support over the course of a 12 month period. The Jobpath provider is Seetec Ltd, and he attends the local Seetec Office.

On the 12 June 2019, the person concerned, (through Seetec) requested an appointment with Coolock Intreo Centre staff to discuss starting self-employment as a Taxi Driver under the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme. He was informed that under current BTWEA guidelines, taxi driving is not an occupation supported under the BTWEA scheme. He is not eligible to apply for funding from the contracted Local Employment Service (LES) while he is selected on the Jobpath programme.

The person concerned can however discuss his plans for self-employment or employment with his Seetec adviser.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.