Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for her reply. I welcome the fact that this investigation has been requested by her and that it will occur. The response was slow, but a slow response is better than none. At a time of rising unemployment when we have a skills mismatch between the jobs available and those without jobs, it is important we have a functioning training agency. While many employees of FÁS do a good job and much good community work is done through the community employment, CE, schemes, it is clear that FÁS is failing as an organisation and the situation with regard to those at the top of the organisation is unsatisfactory.

I have two crucial questions on the issue. Will the Minister publish the terms of reference of the inquiry and will she assure me that it will not be limited to the corporate affairs section of FÁS? It appears that the irregularities, problems and mismanagement of FÁS go much further than corporate affairs and I would not like to see one department of the organisation hung or scapegoated. Will the Minister ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to look at the in-company training and services to business department of FÁS in particular? Both Deputy Kenny and I warned the Government about the issues in FÁS a year ago, but it did not listen properly at the time. Perhaps the Minister will listen to us now and ensure the Comptroller and Auditor General looks at that area also.

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