Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps taken since the publication of Building Ireland's Smart Economy - A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal 2009 to 2014 to prioritise flexible learning initiatives targeted at up-skilling the workforce; and the initiatives that will be funded. [17611/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, through FÁS, continues to prioritise the need to assist and up-skill those who have become unemployed as a result of the current downturn in the economy. In 2009 FÁS estimates that it will be in a position to deliver over 6,000 training courses under the Training Services, Community Services and Services to Business categories. In conjunction with FÁS, my Department has taken a range of steps to expand services to the unemployed and promote a flexible learning environment tailored to the specific needs of the individual. In addition to the 51,000 FÁS training places announced in February, a further 18,725 training places for the unemployed were provided in the Supplementary Budget to bring the total number of training and work experience activation places funded by my Department in 2009 to approximately 128,000.

As part of these measures FÁS has re-aligned its focus to provide a more flexible delivery of training interventions for individuals to include on-line, evening and blended learning training options in addition to the more traditional mix of course offerings. The aim of these additional training places is to offer increased flexibility and flexible learning options to enable the unemployed and those who wish to further develop their skill-sets and competencies to secure employment as soon as possible.

Skillnets continues to provide flexible and effective training solutions to companies. Its enterprise-led approach ensures that networks can identify and access relevant, high-quality and cost-effective training relative to the needs of its member companies and contribute to the upskilling of the national workforce. Skillnets is also managing a new training networks programme, entitled Finuas, devised to provide support for a targeted upskilling programme within the international financial services industry. The programme, which will provide co-financing and development support for enterprise-led training and upskilling, will address identified skills gaps and enhance the current skills base necessary to attract and retain investment within the sector. The programme is scheduled to commence in June 2009.