Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

This initiative involves the immediate referral of clients aged 18 and 19 to FÁS employment services. The pilot is due to conclude in late April after which its effectiveness will be reviewed. Deputy Shortall has raised this matter. Having met with the participants, I consider it a very worthwhile initiative.

In a difficult employment climate such as that which we are currently facing the importance of training and education to maximising reskilling and upskilling opportunities is vital for the entire workforce. The impact of such training opportunities on those who are out of work and seeking to rejoin the labour market cannot be overstated. The training and education programmes funded by the Government through my Department and the Department of Education and Science are designed to increase the skills and competencies of participants and thereby increase their employability and hopefully enable them to secure alternative employment at the earliest opportunity. In addition to the economic benefits associated with participating in upskilling and reskilling programmes, they provide a valuable social service by ensuring that individuals remain active and continue to learn so as to be ready to take up employment when job growth returns. In light of the obvious importance of training, I have already announced that an additional 51,000 training places are to be delivered by FÁS this year. These places are specifically tailored for individuals who are recently unemployed and who wish to add to their existing skills in order to improve their prospects of securing employment.

This new initiative enhances FÁS's existing portfolio of traditional course offerings and will be delivered through three core training initiatives, namely, ten-week courses, night courses, and on-line courses. The night courses offer a flexible alternative to those whose circumstances may not allow them to attend during the day and the on-line courses provide a good option for those who need a fast and flexible intervention and who prefer a self-directed e-learning and blended learning environment. My announcement last month means that FÁS is providing a total of 78,000 training places under this initiative. This is almost a three fold increase in the provision of these types of training places. It is an important development in terms of responding to the number of people now on the live register. However, the Government is fully aware this is only one measure. We are continuing to actively explore other initiatives to further increase the number of training and education places available to people seeking employment.

FÁS and other State agencies have formed an early response team to deal with significant redundancies. The nature of the response is to conduct interviews on a voluntary basis with those who wish to explore employment and retraining options. Such interviews would normally be conducted on site with the co-operation of the employer and would take place in advance of any planned lay-offs. Training interventions and other supports would then be provided as required. FÁS services in this area include one-to-one occupational guidance and priority access to appropriate vocational training; job club referral options; individual assessment and guidance; group and individual training options; upskilling for specific targeted alternative employment; in-house dedicated employment services facilities; and organisation of jobs fairs in conjunction with other employers and agencies in the area.

Particular support is also being provided to redundant construction workers. Since the beginning of last year we have witnessed a dramatic reduction in construction related activity. This has resulted in a significant fall in the numbers employed in the sector since 2007. The Government is committed to providing assistance to these individuals to increase their skill levels and in some cases develop new skill sets which can take advantage of the opportunities in new emerging growth areas within the construction sector. These include the installation of energy efficient and renewable technologies and compliance and regulatory work. Since November 2008, FÁS training centres have provided training to approximately 880 trainees in these emerging areas.

In addition to the usual supports that it provides to redundant workers, FÁS has established a training fund to provide a timely response to identified training needs for low skilled and redundant craft workers from the construction sector. The agency is also assisting Irish construction workers who wish to continue working in the industry to obtain employment abroad in other EU member states. Discussions are ongoing with agencies in Canada and Australia to support the recruitment of crafts persons from Ireland. In the delivery of these services, FÁS liaises with the other relevant agencies including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the city and county enterprise boards and the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

The significant reduction in the number of people employed in the construction sector has led to a rising number of apprentices being made redundant. The Government is determined to provide support and assistance to these individuals so they are given every opportunity to complete their apprenticeships. To date a number of innovative measures have been initiated to assist them, including allowing redundant apprentices to progress to their next off-the-job phase of training without completing the relevant on-the-job phase. It is expected during 2009 that in excess of 1,200 redundant apprentices will receive off-the-job training. At present, 539 redundant apprentices are attending an off-the-job phase. The employer based redundant apprentice rotation scheme aims to provide redundant apprentices with the on-the-job experience they require to complete their apprenticeships. This scheme will provide assistance for up to 500 redundant apprentices.

ESB Networks has agreed a programme with FÁS to provide 400 redundant electrical apprentices with on the job training opportunities at phases 5 and 7 over an 18 month period. Léargas has provided part funding under the EU's Leonardo da Vinci programme to support the placement of 26 redundant apprentices with overseas employers to complete their phase 7 on the job training, and FÁS has submitted a further proposal to Léargas for up to 60 additional redundant apprentices to complete their on the job training in Finland and Germany. As a result of these measures, almost 2,200 apprentices who have been made redundant should be able to progress their apprenticeships. The Department will, of course, continue to consider further initiatives to assist redundant apprentices in completing their apprenticeships.

The Government is also committed to assisting the most vulnerable in our society, including those who for various reasons have over time become distanced from the labour market and are seeking to re-enter it. The community employment scheme is an active labour market programme which is currently helping 22,469 long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a normal work routine. The programme assists them to enhance and develop both their technical and personal skills which can be then used in the workplace. The programme is sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, voluntary organisations and public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities.

FÁS continues to develop the content of the CE programme. The new approach involves the introduction of an individual learner planning process which focuses on meeting the learning needs of participants. The individual learner plan provides for the planning, organising and recording of the work experience, training and development that each participant receives while working on CE.

Job initiative is a programme that provides full-time employment for 1,431 people who are 35 years of age or over who have been unemployed for five years or more and in receipt of social welfare payments over that period. The main purpose of the programme is to assist long-term unemployed people to prepare for work opportunities. The programme achieves this by providing participants with work experience, training and development opportunities. The programme is sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary organisations, public bodies and those involved in not-for-profit activities.

This Government will continue to support the positive role of FÁS employment schemes in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. I am keeping the operation of the schemes under constant review in the context of the current difficult unemployment situation.

This Government has always believed in the benefits of investing significantly in our education system. We increased investment in higher education to €2,000 million in 2008, an increase of 135% since 1997 that supports participation by more than 170,000 learners. We have also increased our investment in the further education sector to €414 million last year, an increase of more than 400% since 1997. As a result of this Government's substantial investment, 145,000 learners had access to learning opportunities last year, an increase of 95,000 over the equivalent 1997 figures.

A key priority for the education system is to continue to respond to the needs of learners and of course the wider needs of society and the economy. Since 1997, we have introduced a variety of measures across all sectors of the education sector to increase the learning opportunities and enhance the access all individuals have to education in Ireland.

In the further education sector, we introduced the back to education initiative, which provides flexible part-time options across further education and is aimed at adults with less than upper second level education, including unemployed adults. It aims to give adults who wish to return to education an opportunity to combine their return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. To facilitate access and participation, programmes are offered on a part-time basis or at weekends. Under this initiative any adult with less than an upper second level education is entitled to free tuition. This year 9,000 individuals will benefit from participating in this initiative.

See this speech in context