Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 88: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the training programmes she is introducing to upskill persons left unemployed; the number of places there will be in each programme; the basis on which the allocation of places in these programmes will be made; the body which will be in charge of allocation of these places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27100/09]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the additional courses that have been organised by FÁS in view of the increase of people who are unemployed. [27205/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 114 together.

This year the Government have almost doubled the number of FÁS activation training and work experience places for the unemployed to over 129,000. This is a substantial increase on the 66,000 places, which were available at the end of last year. The majority of these additional places are on short courses and will be delivered through three core-training initiatives, Short Courses, Night Courses and Online Courses. These courses are designed to develop new skills and competencies for the unemployed to assist them in securing employment.

Other new programmes which have been rolled out for the unemployed are the Work Placement Programme and the Short time Training Programme. The Work Placement Programme is a six-month work experience programme for 2,000 individuals who are currently unemployed. Under this programme individuals will retain their social welfare entitlements.

The Short Time Working Training Programme will provide two days training a week for 277 workers over a 52-week period who are on systematic short time. Participants on this programme will also continue to receive their existing social welfare entitlements. Information on the range of training programmes offered by FÁS for the unemployed is provided in tabular format.

In terms of the allocation of training places each of the 8 FÁS Regions in consultation with the relevant regional stakeholders – develop appropriate plans regarding the range, mix and type of training courses appropriate to the needs of that region. In this process each region will identify their training needs based on regional profiles, which include: - Response to the live-register activity of the region

- The demand for specific training courses from jobseeker's living in the region

- Response to regional redundancy situations

- The skills required by local enterprises to sustain businesses

- Current or future (short - longer term) labour market needs of the region

Regional variations in the type and level of training provided to meet the above will exist across regions. Budgets for training courses are allocated across regions based on the above factors.

FÁS Activation Training for the Unemployed