Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is a matter for Deputy Penrose to make his own determinations. I have received a written assurance from the director general that the matters raised in the audit committee have been addressed and that correct procedures have been put in place.

Regarding the board, I have met its chairman regularly, who every Deputy would agree is a fine individual, and its director general. I have also met senior staff members of FÁS in the context of driving its agenda of targeting and supporting people. We have greater interaction with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Minister of State, Deputy Haughey, is driving the issue of lifelong learning and reviewing labour market measures to determine where there are greater opportunities, particularly between the Department of Education and Science and my Department. Like the House, I do not want training for training's sake.

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