Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
770. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure that those who are in receipt of unemployment assistance payments are offered paths into training and employment. [35317/26]
View answerMy Department, through its Intreo network, provides a number of pathways into training and employment for those who are in receipt of jobseeker payments.
My Department offers supports for education and training, which aim raise educational and skill levels to increase the employability of jobseekers and increase the likelihood of entering employment.
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support to jobseekers who wish to enter a full-time FET course to improve their skills and assist them in finding quality employment. The Training Support Grant (TSG) can be used by jobseekers to fund short-term training and certification up to €1,000 per annum. The Grant allows jobseekers to address immediate skills and certification gaps that prevent them from taking up an offer of employment. Jobseekers receiving qualifying payments can avail of free Higher Education courses via Springboard+.
The Part Time Education Option enables people in receipt of a jobseeker payment to attend part-time day/evening courses of education or training, with the approval of their Employment Personal Advisor. The Education, Training and Development option allows those in receipt of a jobseeker payment, with the approval of their Employment Personal Advisor, to continue receiving their payment while attending certain short education, training or development courses. The normal eligibility conditions for jobseeker payments continue to apply for both options.
My Department provides a number of schemes to keep jobseekers close to the labour market and facilitate them taking up work, such as the Work Placement Experience programme (WPEP) and JobsPlus.
The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is designed to support jobseekers and break the cycle of “no work, no experience” by providing 6-month work placements of 30 hours per week. Participants gain valuable on-the-job experience and complete 60 hours of training over the programme, including 20 hours of accredited or sector-specific training. More distant labour market cohorts benefit from reduced scheme qualification requirements.
JobsPlus is a recruitment incentive for employers of up to €10,000 to hire an unemployed person from the Live Register. The scheme is is co-funded by the EU for jobseekers under 30. Under-30s also need only be in receipt of a qualifying payment for 4 months to become eligible for the standard rate of JobsPlus.
My Department is currently drafting the successor to Pathways to Work, the national employment services strategy, which is expected to be published later this year. The strategy will recognise the labour market challenges facing distant labour market cohorts despite positive employment developments. It will focus on ensuring those facing additional barriers to work are supported to find and sustain quality employment through a range of supports available across the Intreo network.
