Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans in place for additional retraining courses and programmes for jobseekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16962/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To respond to the rising numbers of unemployed I have increased the capacity of the job search services within FÁS from 6,500 to 12,250 persons per month. This brings the total number of places for referrals by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to 150,000 per year.

My Department has through the significant redeployment of resources substantially increased the number of activation training and work experience places it funds through FÁS to 128,000. This is a considerable accomplishment given that it is almost double the 66,000 places, which were available at the end of last year.

The majority of these additional places are being provided under FÁS Training Initiatives Strategy and are short courses. In February of this year I announced that I was increasing the 27,000 training places by a further 51,000. As a result of the redeployed resources contained within the Supplementary Budget an additional 12,000 ten week and 1,800 twenty week training courses are now being provided. This means this year FÁS will have the capacity to provide 92,000 training places on their short courses. These extra places are designed to build upon the existing training and development work already undertaken by FÁS in developing new skills and competencies for the unemployed.

In addition in the supplementary Budget an additional 400 extra places will be provided on the Community Employment Scheme bringing the total number of places on Community Employment Scheme to 22,700.

I also announced a number of new measures in the Supplementary Budget which include: The new Work Experience Scheme will provide 2,000 six-month work experience places for the unemployed and includes the placement of graduates. It is expected that participants on the Scheme will be able to keep their social welfare entitlements. 1,500 third level places will be provided for under the Part-Time Third Level Scheme, which will allow the unemployed participate in third level education on a part time basis. 277 places will be created for those in vulnerable employment. Under this Scheme workers who are on a 3 day week and receiving social welfare payments for the 2 days they are not working will receive 2 days training a week for those days.

The provision of a new certified training programme in the Institutes of Technology will allow an additional 700 redundant apprentices progress to other higher education training programmes or to complete their apprenticeship at a later stage.

In relation to the new initiatives that were announced in the Supplementary Budget discussions are at an advanced stage between the various Departments involved and an announcement is expected very shortly.