Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills

Vote 27 - Education and Skills (Revised)

11:15 am

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been a significant decrease in the grant funding provided to FÁS and SOLAS under subhead B3. The figure was €102 million last year and €103 million the previous year, but it is just €89 million this year. That represents a cut of 14%. Can the Minister of State explain where that reduction in funding came from and what impact it has had? According to the table on page 20 of the briefing document, which gives details in relation to context and impact indicators, the figure categorised as "FÁS throughput training for those seeking employment" decreased from more than 77,000 in 2010 to approximately 60,000 in 2011 and 2012. That is quite a significant drop at a time when one would have expected this country's employment situation to necessitate the training of more people through FÁS-supported training schemes. Can the Minister of State provide any more detail in that regard?

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