Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if transition arrangements including training aimed at former family carers whose caring role has ended will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34099/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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All FÁS training and employment programmes are open to former family carers. Some programmes are delivered on a part-time basis and may support former carers in their transition from caring responsibilities to participation on training and employment programmes.

Since 5 October, 2000 persons who were formerly in receipt of a carer's allowance and whose caring responsibilities have ceased, have been eligible to participate on the community employment programme if they have transferred their social welfare payment and are currently in receipt of either unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit or one parent family payment, and have a combined period on the foregoing social welfare payments of 12 months or more.

Experienced carers may, through their local FÁS employment services offices, access training programmes for heath care assistants which will enable them to have their skills updated and certified. The care assistant traineeship programme provides formal training and Health Service Executive approved qualifications. Successful participants will be awarded the FETAC national skills certificate: care assistant, care for the older person.