Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 26 February 2009, if he will ensure at departmental level that FÁS will, at his intervention, in the first instance open up discussions with the institutes of technology and the vocational educational committees to ensure contracts for the provision of relevant courses for recently unemployed workers will be delivered through the existing public system of education, including adult education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9709/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I indicated in my reply on 26 February 2009, FÁS in addition to their own delivery of courses, already contract with other bodies for provision of relevant courses. VECs and Institutes of Technology can bid for the provision of appropriate courses.

As the Deputy is aware, FÁS operates under the aegis of the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and her Department. The Department of Education and Science liaises with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with a view to improving the co-ordination of our efforts and facilitating better co-operation and collaboration at local and regional level among the relevant education and training providers.

In particular, the Department of Education and Science participates in the Upskilling Co-Ordination Group, which comprises representatives from this Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and key training providers including FÁS, Skillnets, Engineers Ireland, the County Enterprise Boards, the VECs, the Institutes of Technology and the Higher Education Authority.

The purpose of this group is to discuss any issues concerning the provision of training that arise amongst the State's key training providers. It aims to improve interagency cooperation, facilitate the exchange of information on operational and policy aspects and the avoidance of duplication. It also aims to ensure that the impact realised from the State's investment in education and training is maximized.

All of these organisations are working together at both national and local level to ensure that both the education and training sectors respond in an optimal way to the situation we are currently facing. I consider that the present arrangements are the best way to address the provision of relevant courses for recently unemployed workers.