Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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423. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for refusal of EURES relocation allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31575/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The European Targeted Mobility Scheme (TMS) is a European Union job mobility scheme which offers financial assistance to EU citizens aged 18+ in relocating for work or travelling to an interview in another EU country, Norway or Iceland. It also assists employers interested in recruiting for hard to fill vacancies from another EU country, Norway or Iceland. The aim of the scheme is to facilitate mobility for jobseekers and employers by offering candidates mobility services including financial support for relocation in order to reduce barriers to internal movement of workers. Ireland is currently partnered with Sweden for this European Targeted Mobility Scheme (TMS) on behalf of the EU Commission.

In order for a migrating worker to be eligible for financial support under this scheme, there is a very strict condition that an application for the allowance must be made prior to leaving their home country and prior to commencing employment. This condition is printed and highlighted on the first page of the application form. This condition is in place to ensure that applicants do not travel without the economic security of a job and income on arrival in a new country.

While I do not wish to comment on individual cases or applications, I understand that not all conditions were satisfied in the case referred to by the Deputy.