Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Deputy and I fully agree with much of what he said. However, rather than rely on a PwC survey, the statistics I have given the Deputy are the official figures for this week from the CSO. I am pleased to report to the House that we are moving significantly in the right direction. One of the first things we did was to restructure the entire training platform by changing and abolishing FÁS and changing the nature and remit of the old vocational education committees. Instead of FÁS we have SOLAS and instead of the vocational education committees we now have the education and training boards, ETBs, with a new remit to deal directly with not only young people but people of all ages who need upskilling and training. SOLAS now deals with people who are unemployed for three months with bespoke, customised training based on their skill sets, desires and also the availability of job opportunities in their own region to provide for that.

I also assure Deputy Tom Fleming that the sort of joined-up thinking between the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that he recommended is being followed.

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