Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the benefits of the rationalisation, from 33 VECs to 16 ETBs, will be the opportunity for CEOs to share knowledge, experience and best practice. That sharing of best practice will be facilitated by SOLAS at national level. If we see examples of best practice occurring in any part of the country - I expect we will see it occurring in all parts of the country in terms of different kinds of provision and different kinds of training opportunities - it is the ambition of SOLAS to allow for that information and best practice to be shared across the system of 16 ETBs.

In terms of the engagement at local level, the primary engagement for the unemployed will be through their Intreo office. On approaching their Intreo office, they will be able to access two unique and distinct different kinds of advice: first, the advice from the Department of Social Protection as to what kind of social welfare supports are available for them while they find themselves in that difficult place of being unemployed; and second, expert guidance from staff from within the ETB as to what exactly are the job opportunities because there will be a forensic and ongoing analysis of job opportunities in each ETB region, and then guidance and advice as to how a person can access those opportunities. Those opportunities will be there. The provision of education and training in each region will reflect the skills demands in each region and will be up to date and responsive to the demands of the labour market at the time. There will be those opportunities and there will be guidance given as to how one can access those opportunities.

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