Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The centre will be located in the same building as the new office of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, thereby facilitating those seeking to avail of the services of both offices. The expectation is that the premises will be ready and operational by July.

FÁS also plans to further develop the Employment Services office at D'Olier House by increasing the public usage area in order to provide its clients with an enhanced walk-in self-service operation. I understand that the board of FÁS has approved the estimated fit out costs in respect of both premises.

On the training services provided by FÁS at the Jervis Street premises, approximately 80% of those who receive training there are from outside the area. The continuing demographic changes in the city as well as the high costs of renting suitable extensive facilities for training purposes in the area mean that it is more cost-effective to redeploy the city centre training programmes to other Dublin training centres. Such redeployment has already commenced for longer-term programmes to ensure minimum disruption for the trainees involved.

I cannot overemphasise the importance of the role FÁS has to play in the Irish economy and society as this country faces into a very challenging period. The Government, therefore, remains wholly committed to giving FÁS the resources it needs to continue to provide high quality training and employment services that are relevant to the needs of today's labour market.

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