Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy is aware in the first instance, there is a facilitator in the office. People are referred to FÁS under the national employment action plan. People there are well-trained in assessing the needs of individuals and to assess the employment and training needs of such people to establish what education opportunities could be made available. The national employment action plan is working very successfully in cases of those referred to it. It is important to ensure there is a link between receiving payments and taking the opportunities which present. It is also important to establish greater co-ordination and co-operation between all the various groups and agencies which offer training and education opportunities. We aim to ensure within the legislation that people take seriously the opportunities which present for education and training and to ensure such people do not permanently avail of welfare. Such people must be identified.

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