Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

-----to include the director general as an ex officio member of the board; to introduce a rolling system of appointments to the board; to implement the recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts relating to the accountability of the director general of FÁS and the fiduciary duties of directors appointed by the Minister; to introduce provisions relating to the disclosure of interests by board members and the staff of FÁS; and to provide protection for FÁS staff who act in a bona fide manner as whistleblowers. My publication of this Bill sends a clear signal to the public, and to FÁS, that I want to restore public confidence in its ability to deliver on its training and employment mandate.

Last month the live register fell by 16,500 persons. This was a welcome development and was the first decrease in the live register figures since September 2008. However, despite this decrease 423,600 persons remain on the register and the Government is committed to continuing to provide these individuals with the necessary assistance during this difficult period.

On an on-going basis significant numbers of unemployed persons leave the live register. From October 2008 to September 2009, 150,530 are recorded as leaving to employment. This is a positive trend that shows there are still jobs available and that the Government activation measures are assisting the unemployed to develop their skills and secure employment.

To respond to the increasing numbers of people on the live register, I am working closely with my colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Hanafin and Batt O'Keeffe, to ensure that appropriate responses are developed and put in place to meet the upskilling needs of those who are losing their jobs or facing uncertain employment prospects. My Department alone is investing €1 billion in the provision of a range of labour force measures that will provide training and work experience opportunities to assist those who have lost their jobs.

FÁS employment services, together with the local employment services, have put in place measures to double the capacity to cater for the rise in referrals from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The implementation of these measures has increased the annual referral capacity to 147,000 persons this year. These measures and others represent a significant step in meeting the considerable challenge of supporting the unemployed.

In a difficult employment climate such as that which we currently face, the importance of training and education is vital for everyone within the workforce. The impact such opportunities can have for those who are out of work and are seeking to rejoin the labour market, cannot be overstated. To assist individuals through the provision of education and training opportunities, I have also almost doubled the number of activation training and work experience places provided by FÁS to over 130,000. This is a substantial increase on the 66,000 places which were available at the end of last year.

Specifically, there are additional training places on short courses available to the unemployed. This year my Department, through FÁS, will deliver approximately 92,000 short course training places to the unemployed, which is a quadrupling of the number of similar courses which were provided last year and reflects the Government's efforts in increasing relevant supports for the unemployed.

In addition, in the supplementary budget the Government announced its intention to establish a programme that will provide valuable work experience to individuals who are unemployed and who have had limited experience to date. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, and I jointly launched the work placement programme on 2 June. The programme will provide 2,000 individuals who have been unemployed with a six-month work experience placement including graduates.

Since the beginning of 2008 there has been a significant contraction in activity in the construction sector. This contraction has been accompanied by a substantial reduction in the numbers of people employed within that sector. This has had a severe impact on individuals who are currently undertaking an apprenticeship. Unfortunately, at present there are 5,700 redundant apprentices who are seeking to complete their apprenticeships. The Government is fully aware of the difficult situation in which these redundant apprentices find themselves and that is why it is committed to assisting redundant apprentices to gain employment as soon as possible in Ireland or abroad in order that these individuals may complete their apprenticeships.

I have introduced a wide range of measures designed to help alleviate the present situation by enabling 3,800 redundant apprentices to progress their apprenticeships this year. The measures include FÁS putting in place a measure whereby apprentices who are made redundant can progress to the next off-the-job training phase in the education sector. This means that they do not need to do their on-the-job phase and can go directly to the next off-the-job phase.

FÁS has also introduced an employer-based redundant apprentice rotation scheme to provide support for employers to provide on-the-job training to 500 redundant apprentices when they have released their employed apprentice to a scheduled phase 4 and phase 6 off-the-job training phase in the institutes of technology. ESB Networks have agreed a programme with FÁS to provide on-the-job training to eligible redundant electrical apprentices at phase 5 and phase 7, and this programme will provide 400 places over a period of 18 months. The institutes of technology are also providing an 11-week certified training programme for 700 redundant apprentices who have completed their phase 4 training but where another training opportunity is not currently available to them.

As was already noted in the FÁS internal audit report INV 137, and confirmed by subsequent investigations by the Comptroller and Auditor General, primary responsibility for the procurement and promotional activity in question lay with corporate affairs section of FÁS. I have already outlined in some detail to the House the changes that have been introduced into procedures within FÁS.

The fact that there were problems in one area in FÁS does not in any way reflect the work of the majority of the staff in FÁS, who are hardworking and committed to their role in supporting those who avail of the training or employment activities of the organisation. I acknowledge the excellent work carried out by them. Their commitment and professionalism are crucial in helping to deal with key labour market challenges currently facing this country.

The record shows that I responded quickly and effectively to the issues relating to FÁS as they presented themselves to me. I have at all times worked to ensure that the FÁS organisation can refocus to address the key challenges of unemployment through its job search, training and employment programmes.

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