Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

There are no plans to alter the present arrangements in regard to the provision of education and training courses for recently unemployed workers.

FÁS, in addition to its own delivery of courses, already contracts with other education and training providers for the provision of relevant courses. It should be noted that the additional places referred to by the Deputy are being provided by FÁS from within existing resources.

It is open to vocational education committees and the institutes of technology to bid for the provision of appropriate courses. At present, VECs already provide courses on behalf of FÁS under the one step up initiative. Examples include the skills for work programme delivered under the workplace basic education fund which provides education and training in basic skills at FETAC level 3. VECs also provide courses for participants in FÁS-run community education schemes under the return to education programme. In addition, VECs provide courses under the learning at work and competency development programmes.

In particular, the Department of Education and Science participates in the upskilling co-ordination group chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and comprising representatives of key training providers including FÁS, Skillnets, Engineers Ireland, the county enterprise boards, the VECs, the institutes of technology and the Higher Education Authority. The purpose of the group is to discuss any issues concerning the provision of training that arise among the State's key training providers. It aims to improve interagency co-operation, facilitate the exchange of information on operational and policy aspects and the avoidance of duplication. It also aims to ensure that the impact realised from the State's investment in education and training is maximised.

In the broader context, the Department of Education and Science liaises with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with a view to improving the co-ordination of our efforts and facilitating better co-operation and collaboration at local and regional level among the relevant education and training providers. All of these organisations are working together at both national and local level to ensure that both the education and training sectors respond in an optimal way to the difficult situation we currently face.

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