Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 22: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if FÁS continues to host courses offering introduction to computers; the number of persons in the scheme; the financial outlay involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13767/04]

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS continues to provide many introductory level courses nationally as part of its services to the unemployed. These programmes are variously offered as European computer driving licence, ECDL, introduction to basic computers, and introduction to keyboard and computer skills. Sometimes such courses are discrete courses in their own right or sometimes they are delivered as modules within a return to work training programme.

In 2003, the number of unemployed persons trained under the introduction to computers categories above was 2,176. The cost was €6,359,000.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 23: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the placement rate of FÁS scheme participants from the live register who have participated in non-apprenticeship training courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13762/04]

Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The latest published follow-up survey of FÁS participants was carried out by the ESRI and published in 2003. It was based on asking a sample of FÁS trainees that left their FÁS programme in 2001 about their status in autumn 2002.

The survey estimated that 45% of live registrants that completed FÁS training courses were in employment at the time of the follow-up survey. A further 20% had progressed to another FÁS programme or returned to education. Just over a quarter, 27%, were unemployed. Hence, for every four persons who came off the live register to attend training, only one was unemployed at the time of the follow-up survey.