Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The full range of services provided by FÁS is available to all unemployed people. In particular, FÁS provides an integrated support service for people being made redundant because of company restructuring or closures. This involves information sessions, skills analysis, training and retraining courses and job placement. In the delivery of these services, FÁS liaises with other relevant agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the city and county enterprise boards and the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Under Towards 2016, a number of initiatives aimed at workers in vulnerable industries are being undertaken. These include enhanced programmes to upskill the low-skilled and older workers. In addition, a high-level working manufacturing group has been established to review the challenges facing the sector and, having regard to initiatives currently under way, identify any further measures that would help to meet those challenges.

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