Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which she will extend or improve the ability of FÁS to meet its greater demands arising from the emerging economic downturn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7533/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, through FÁS, is taking a number of steps in order to meet the greater demands arising from the economic downturn. In the context of job search supports, FÁS is working to provide sufficient front-line staff in the National Employment Service to provide for a major increase during 2009 of Employment Action Plan (EAP) referrals from the Department of Social and Family Affairs as well as unemployed persons seeking job search assistance voluntarily. The aim is for a combined FÁS/Local Employment Service (LES) capacity of 147,000 EAP interviews, as well as other redundant and caseload clients. This will be achieved, in the main, by the LES providing, for the first time, a large-scale direct referral capacity for EAP clients. In addition, FÁS has begun the process of increasing its own Employment Services capacity by the internal redeployment of staff.

In respect of services for those interviewed by the Employment Service, Job Clubs are being re-focussed on assisting those who are 'job-ready' to find work. In addition to this, overseas jobs will be highlighted through the European Employment Service (EURES).

Regarding training programmes, I recently announced the availability of 51,000 new training places under the FÁS Training Initiatives Strategy. These places are in addition to the 27,000 previously planned for 2009 under the Bridging Foundation Training, Specific Skills Training and Traineeships Programmes. These programmes will provide short training courses for those who have recently become unemployed.

The Training Initiative Strategy enhances the traditional mix of course offerings and will be delivered through three core-training initiatives, Short Courses, Night Courses and Online Courses. The courses are for highly employable persons who wish to add to their existing skills set and improve their prospects of re-entering the labour market. The night courses offer further flexibility and the online courses provide an excellent option for those who need a fast flexible intervention and who prefer a self directed E learning and blended learning environment. To ensure that the training offered remains highly relevant to the needs of the labour market, FÁS has also been looking at updating the content of certain training initiatives. This has resulted in the introduction of new courses for redundant construction workers in developing environmental/energy areas.

FÁS has also responded to the increase in the level of redundant apprentices especially in the construction and related sectors by providing the following supports:

The Department of Social and Family Affairs immediately refer redundant apprentices to FÁS for assistance.

Following this immediate referral, the FÁS Employment Services and FÁS Services to Business Divisions work in collaboration to provide guidance and support in sourcing a new employer and to consider further options. FÁS has amended the scheduling rules for off-the-job training to permit redundant apprentices to progress to their next off-the-job training, at Phase 2, Phase 4 and Phase 6, in accordance with the existing scheduling criteria.

FÁS introduced an Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme to provide support for employers to provide on-the-job training to redundant apprentices when they have released their employed apprentice to a scheduled Phase 4 and Phase 6 off-the-job training phase in the Institutes of Technology.

Leargas have provided funding under the EU's Leonardo da Vinci programme to support the placement of 26 redundant apprentices with overseas employers to complete their Phase 7 on-the-job training assessments.

ESB Networks have agreed a programme with FÁS to provide on-the-job training to eligible redundant electrical apprentices at Phase 5 and Phase 7. This programme will provide up to 400 places over a period of eighteen months and will be funded by ESB Networks.

Finally, redundant apprentices may also avail of existing specific skills training courses, which are trade related to enhance their employable skills and they may also avail of a range of trade-related night courses, which are available in FÁS training centres.