Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for the figures. However, there is a significant gap between the number being interviewed by FÁS and the number referred to employment and training programmes. Between January and July 2008, 35,000 people were referred by the Department to FÁS of whom 1,344 were referred to agency schemes and 275 to further education and training. Why are those figures so low? The Minister stated the Department does not collate information regarding the number of people on FÁS placements who subsequently take up employment. Would it be a good idea to do so in order that we can establish what is working? It is difficult to improve an organisation if the facts are not available, although I appreciate FÁS does not come within the Minister's remit. Is the Minister happy the system is working and is effective? What changes have been made in the past year in the interaction between the Department and FÁS bearing in mind unemployment is increasing steadily?

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