Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the requirement that a jobseeker must provide evidence of a job offer which requires a driving licence in order to qualify for the training grant of €250 for essential driver training will be reviewed in view of the difficulty to obtain any job offer which requires a driving licence without having already obtained a driving licence; if she will consider revising the requirement to show that the jobseeker is seriously applying for jobs which require a driving licence rather than evidence of a job offer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37576/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Training Support Grant provided by my Department is designed to fund quick access to short-term training to support individual jobseekers access work opportunities.  Total expenditure on this grant amounted to €2.2m in 2019 and approx. 5,600 individuals were supported.  As part of the July Jobs Stimulus the funding available to a jobseeker under this grant has doubled from €500 per year to €1,000.

Given the direct and individually tailored nature of this support, it is a vital tool available for jobseekers to bridge a skills gap that may impede them progressing to employment.  The guidelines for the grant state that a jobseeker whose chances of gaining employment can be significantly improved may be awarded funding for training.  Support under this measure, including assistance towards driver training, can be provided where the jobseeker has provided reasonable evidence of need which can include a job offer or a potential job offer or has identified a skills gap or requirement to maintain or achieve accreditation.

Anyone wishing to discuss their training options and supports available should contact their local Intreo Centre for advice.