Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons enrolled in the activation and family support programme; and the amount of funding allocated to the scheme for 2022. [15140/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Activation and Family Support Programme (AFSP) enables my Department to assist local organisations and agencies to implement projects addressing the needs of recipients of welfare payments and their families, to provide progression routes into education, training and employment.

The application of the funding is largely responsive to demand identified by local organisations who apply for funding for a project via my Department’s activation services. The programme is designed to fund projects that have the capacity to result in positive changes in the circumstances of our customers and their families. Funding applications come from a wide range of organisations including family resource centres, partnerships, community development companies and advocacy groups.

A budget of €600,000 is provided for this programme in 2022. A number of courses are currently approved or underway and there are currently some 60 learners attending courses co-funded by this programme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.