Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he is unable to offer first refusal to the further education sector, including the vocational education committees and the institutes of technology, on the 51,000 additional places announced in February 2009 in view of the fact they are repackaged places within FÁS and funded out of existing resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19251/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS, in addition to their own delivery of courses, already contract with other education and training providers for the provision of relevant courses. It is a matter for FÁS and its parent Department to determine the contracting arrangements. It is open to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and the Institutes of Technology to bid for the provision of appropriate courses.

VECs already provide courses on behalf of FÁS under the One Step Up initiative. Examples include the Skills for Work programme delivered under the Workplace Basic Education Fund which provides education and training in basic skills at FETAC Level 3. VECs also provide courses for participants in FÁS-run Community Education schemes under the Return to Education programme. In addition, VECs provide courses under the Learning at Work and Competency Development programmes.