Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 123: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the policies she and the State agencies have in view of recent announcements or initiatives being undertaken by FÁS to upskill personnel in electrical trades, technicians and engineering personnel, who would have worked in the construction industry and are now unemployed, in order that they would become employable to other industries (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5627/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I visited a business that operate a Technical Training Centre, with particular focus on Automation including PLC's (Programmable Logic Controllers) and VSD's (Variable Speed Drives). These systems that they train on, are at the heart of every Industrial Business in Ireland and covers several Industries such as Pharmaceutical, Power, Electronics, Mining, Foods and Beverage etc. Electricians, Technicians and Engineers would be expected to have this knowledge in these industries. Last year the companies' courses would have run under the CDP section in FÁS. The CDP programme is only available for persons employed. The company is finding that Electricians, in particular, are looking to upskill and be available for Industries with a focus on Automation. Below are some of the training courses

FÁS provides significant up-skilling training in automation for both employed and unemployed Electrical and Engineering crafts-persons and technicians in many of its Training Centres and also tenders with private providers registered on the FÁS National Register of Trainers when additional training capacity is required.

FÁS provides comprehensive Automation Training Programmes at FETAC Level 5 at Limerick Training Centre and programmes at level 6 in Dublin, Athlone and Cork Training Centres. FÁS has recently developed a number of short automation and CNC courses suitable for unemployed electrical and engineering craftspersons and technicians to broaden their skill base for employment in manufacturing and engineering sectors. The courses are in the following disciplines: Hydraulics, CNC Competencies, Pneumatic, Programmable Logic Controllers and Electrical/Electronic Control Systems.

If the demand for these courses exceeds the supply, FÁS at a local level will go to tender to approved trainers registered with the National Register of Trainers (NRT) in this field. It is important that trainers with the capacity to provide this training are registered on the NRT in order that they may tender for contracts as the opportunity arises.