Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

From reading the newspapers and listening to contributors on all sides of the House, it is obvious that the image of FÁS as an organisation has suffered immeasurable damage in recent times. Its credibility among the public is gone and its brand fatally flawed. This legislation is merely an interim measure that will not change that. Instead, the whole structure and purpose of FÁS as a training organisation will have to be reviewed. We will probably have to revert to the AnCO structure in place before FÁS which was geared towards training apprentices and the unemployed and upskilling low-skilled workers. Due to the bashing FÁS has taken, some people are reluctant to engage with the agency. The Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, is a pragmatist and should overhaul the agency's operation as the brand is now fatally flawed.

My experience of FÁS has been positive. What it achieved across the country has nothing to do with the damage recently caused to the FÁS brand at its top level. That damage was synonymous with the Celtic tiger era when no one cared about anything because there was so much money around. The public servants entrusted to look after our interests must all share the blame for the demise of what was a great organisation. Ministerial responsibility must be reintroduced into the agency.

If it were not for FÁS there would not be one tourism product in north Kerry. I have worked closely with FÁS on projects of scale and quality that are still in place as a testament to the agency. Unfortunately, because of a change FÁS can no longer get involved directly in community projects.

Phases 1, 3, 5 and 7 of an apprenticeship must be spent with an employer while phases 2, 4 and 6 must be completed in either FÁS or an institute of technology. This year, the Tralee FÁS centre only took on 60 apprentices when between 2004 and 2007 the annual figure was 300. The reason for this is simple. There are no employers to take on apprentices for their phase 1 placement, meaning they are being deprived of a career pathway in the meantime.

The Minister of State should consider reopening the community youth training programmes to allow apprentices to work on projects providing community services and amenities, thereby allowing them complete their apprenticeship phases. In Tralee, instructors, many of whom are doing other work, could supervise apprentices as they complete their phases through working on community services and projects. There is nothing wrong with local authorities starting people on apprenticeships, paying a fair but reasonable rate. It would ensure these apprentices will be qualified for the future, creating a base of craftworkers for when the building industry picks up again.

This debate is only but the beginning of a total review of what FÁS stands for and what can replace it because its brand is now fatally flawed.

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