Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the establishment of a training fund which will be at the personal disposal of individuals experiencing employability barriers to use for appropriate training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27704/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Funds are in place to address the requirements to which the Deputy refers. I am informed by FÁS that its High Support Process (HSP) is a flexible process designed to assist FÁS Employment Services Officers (ESOs) in implementing a range of responses to meet the needs of individuals who are experiencing major employability barriers in progressing from unemployment to employment in the open labour market. HSP budget for 2006 is €950,000.

Under the HSP a total of €2,500 per person is available to ESOs to source the relevant interventions such as counselling, supplemental training, etc. It is a multi-agency, case-conferencing approach where FÁS ESOs and Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) Job Facilitators, in conjunction with a number of other agencies such as Health Services Executive, Local Employment Services, Vocational Educational Committees, Probation and Welfare Services, etc. source agreed supports for individuals based on identified barriers.

The HSP is available to:

∙individuals referred through the Employment Action Plan (EAP) who would benefit from this intervention

∙ex-Job Initiative (JI) participants or current participants who wish to explore alternative training and/or employment options

∙any individual presenting and identified in need of 'high support' such as those experiencing homelessness, individual made redundant, ex-offenders, members of the traveller community, disabled people, etc.

In addition to the HSP, FÁS also operates a 'Customised Training Fund' which has a budget of €1,261,000 for 2006. This fund was set up to provide flexibility in responding to the identified training needs of jobseekers. In situations where an individual, during the course of a guidance interview with a FÁS ESO, identifies a specific 'specialised' training need that cannot be met by FÁS, or where there would be an unacceptable delay before the next scheduled FÁS course is due to start, this fund may be used to 'purchase' the required training. In certain circumstances the fund may used to offer group support or individual counselling. The cost of training is set at €635 to €1,270 per individual.

As part of FÁS's guidance process, both HSP and the Customised Training Fund are available to individuals experiencing employability barriers to use for appropriate training, etc. Consequently, there would appear to be no need for a 'third' fund to meet such needs.