Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The part of FÁS that has come to the Department of Social Protection is the employment services side. The training side has stayed within the Department of Education and Skills, to which it was transferred by the previous Government. I do not believe we have any connection there. If the Irish Film Board wants to approach my Department with specific proposals, it should do so.

On Friday I was in Cork where I visited the Triskel Arts Centre. It is a fine community employment development in the centre of the city and has operated for a very long period. There are a number of people working in community employment and they are extremely impressive. The arts centre and other organisations have been examining the potential utilisation of the JobBridge scheme through the development we have agreed with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and particularly the Arts Council and county arts officers.

I hope unemployed actors will be able to avail of opportunities through the participation structures we have been developing and expanding during my time as Minister. If the Irish Film Board wants to meet my Department, we will be happy to meet it. I suspect the relationship to which the Senator referred largely concerns the Department of Education and Skills.