Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 584: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the bodies under his remit that provide training in information technology to students or adults who have learning difficulties or who are affected by illness in the south city and south and west County Dublin areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10321/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

FÁS, the National Training and Employment Authority, is the relevant agency under the aegis of my Department which provides training in information technology to students or adults experiencing learning difficulties or who are affected by illness, who may be classified as, or declared disabled. The remit of FÁS includes the provision of vocational training for the open labour market. People with disabilities who wish to enter the labour market are encouraged to apply for training, and the appropriate supports are put in place to meet their particular individual needs.

If a person with a disability cannot meet the requirements of FÁS mainline vocational training, with supports provided, then the individual is referred to specialist training provision contracted by FÁS. In these circumstances, and depending on the severity of the disability, a functional assessment would be carried out by the specialist training provider to determine whether the person would be able to undertake vocational training, or would require rehabilitative training under the remit of the Department of Health and Children. The entry process for all FÁS services is for the individual to register at his or her nearest FÁS Employment Service Office and undertake an initial vocational guidance interview.

In relation to information technology training in the South City, South and West County Dublin areas, the specific FÁS training centres offering various information technology programmes to all trainees, including those with learning or health difficulties who are in a position to participate, are as follows:

1. FÁS Ballyfermot TC, Ballyfermot Hill, Dublin 10

2. FÁS Loughlinstown TC, Wyattville Road, Loughlinstown

3. FÁS Tallaght TC, Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght

The specialist training providers contracted by FÁS in the same geographical areas are as follows:

National Learning Network (NLN), is the training section of the Rehab Group, the not- for- profit organisation working for the inclusion of for people with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

Eve Holdings is the training section of the Health Services Executive (Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare).

NLN — Ballyfermot Training Centre — Kylemore Road, Dublin 10.

NLN — Bray Training Centre — Boghall Industrial Estate, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

St John of Gods — Burton Hall — Burton Hall Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Sandyford, Co Dublin

NLN — Fresh Start — Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, Blanchardstown Road North, Dublin 15

NLN — Roslyn Park — National Training College, Sandymount, Dublin 4.

NLN — Tallaght Training Centre — Unit 77, Broomhill Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24.