Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 212: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the offering of places on FETAC healthcare support course level five in Tallaght for all hospital staff; if this includes all staff including cleaners and porters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24651/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the representations she has made to St. Loman's Hospital, Lucan Road to ensure that all staff can avail of FETAC level five training in healthcare support as understood to be part of a benchmarking pay agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24652/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together.

The Deputy's questions relates to training, education and development of support staff in the health services which is comprehended by the SKILL Project (Securing Knowledge Intra Lifelong Learning). The SKILL training fund originated as part of the parallel benchmarking agreement for support staff titled "Recognising & Respecting the Role". Under the SKILL Project €60m is being provided over a four year period, 2004 — 2008 for training of support staff. All grades of support staff have equal access to the training programmes, which are FETAC accredited e.g. porters, catering, household etc. The SKILL Project Team have identified the numbers and grades of staff who will undergo the FETAC programmes in 2006. The numbers undertaking the programme are representative of the sector as a whole and of the various grades of support staff.

The allocation of places in particular institutions is a human resource management issue within the Health Service Executive. As these are matters for the Executive under the Health Act 2004, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have them investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.