Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the proposals she has made to Government to merge the employment services section of FÁS with her Department. [39512/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have not made any proposals to Government to merge the employment support services of FÁS with the Department of Social and Family Affairs. FÁS and the Department work together in a complementary way on behalf of people on social welfare payments.

Both sides operate under a memorandum of understanding which is updated periodically. Senior officials of the Department hold regular joint meetings with FÁS and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. There are also regular meetings between officials of the Department and FÁS at regional and local level. A high degree of cooperation and coordination exists at both policy and operational level between the Department of Social and Family Affairs and FÁS.

An important area of this cooperation is in relation to the joint National Employment Action Plan whereby people are referred to FÁS when they reach 3 months on the live register.

The Department works closely with FÁS in providing opportunities for people on social welfare to access the range of training and employment services afforded by that organisation.

I am satisfied that the existing arrangements with FÁS, together with the supporting activation measures undertaken by the Department, ensure that the social and economic progression of those most marginalised is being adequately addressed.