John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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359. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an oral hearing will be arranged immediately for a person (details supplied). [34305/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 25 March 2020.

Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review the appeal decision on foot of this additional evidence. The outcome of this review will be issued to the person concerned very shortly.

Appeals Officers make summary decisions on appeals based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing. An oral hearing will not be held if the Appeals Officer finds that there is no prospect that additional evidence could be provided via the hearing that would affect the outcome of the appeal.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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360. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the increase in the training support grant from €500 to €1,000 is not available for JobPath participants despite INTREO confirming that the increase should be paid to JobPath participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34317/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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JobPath providers have their own discretionary funds available to pay for training or other interventions; the decision to approve or reject any request for funding is solely at the discretion of the JobPath provider.

They will take into account the duration, cost and relevance to the customer’s job goal preferences. The prevalence of employment opportunities in the sector will also be considered along with the likelihood that the customer secures full-time employment upon completion of the course.

Several courses are provided in-house while others are provided by specialist training providers including the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). There are no barriers to any participants pursuing training, including further education and training courses, providing they are relevant to the agreed personal progression plan.

While engaging with the JobPath service, participants are provided with a range of supports based on an assessment of individual needs. The JobPath providers will arrange and pay for specific skills training if required by a jobseeker for particular types of work.

For the same reason, the Training Support Grant (TSG) provided by the Department is designed to fund quick access to short-term training where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time or where an intervention is identified that can support individual jobseekers to access work opportunities.

While participants of JobPath do not have access to the Training Support Grant (TSG) provided by the Department, the JobPath companies will on a case by case basis provide similar funding.