Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 155: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 80 of 25 September 2008, regarding the FÁS decision to close the jobs club in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that under the terms enshrined in the Jobs Club Operating Manual issued by the Employment Services Unit of FÁS in 2000, that participants for the formal training course would be provided by way of direct referral from FÁS, in order that the club itself cannot be blamed solely for failure to meet targets set by FÁS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40900/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by FÁS that procedures and practices relating to FÁS programmes, including Job Clubs, were reviewed as part of Sustaining Progress, Benchmarking, and latterly T16 and that Carrick-on-Suir Jobs Club staff and sponsors signed off their acceptance of these changes.

Job Clubs, for their part under their agreements, are required to prepare an annual plan in which they are expected to show how they will achieve the agreed targets within the revised procedures and practices.

In early 2008 FÁS in completing its annual review of the Jobs Club programme raised concerns about the capacity of the Carrick-on-Suir Jobs Club to meet the agreed targets. Representatives were advised by FÁS that if there was no progress towards achieving the targets funding would be discontinued.

FÁS continues to run the current suite of programmes in Carrick-on-Suir, i.e. three Community Employment (CE) Projects with 62 places, a Job Initiative programme, with 5 places and the Local Employment Service. In addition FÁS has announced a Core Employment Skills programme which will start in Carrick-on-Suir in November.

FÁS is committed to supporting those in Carrick-on-Suir who are unemployed and has initiated discussions with other community interests in the town to determine what alternative programmes would attract potential participants and address the needs of unemployed people.