Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

I do not agree with Deputy Deenihan's claim that the FÁS brand is fatally damaged. It may be damaged but not fatally. Most unemployed people look to FÁS as the main public employment service.

As Deputy Deenihan himself said, FÁS has provided many good initiatives. For example, last year electrician apprentices were facilitated by the agency to finish their training with the ESB. My brother went on a placement as an engineer through FÁS to Japan. I worked on a social employment scheme which helped me build up my CV and eventually secure a job as a clerical officer in the public sector. FÁS's many social employment schemes enabled communities to provide community services. In Lucan, for example, the tidy towns committee had a worker provided by a FÁS employment scheme.

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