Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will contact FÁS to ascertain the reason it will not sanction a community employment scheme at a location (details supplied) in County Meath which has a significant level of unemployment and has suffered a factory closure in recent years despite the local community groups seeking to have a scheme to accommodate 14 participants put in place; if same will be sanctioned in view of the fact that some locals are prepared to provide the necessary utensils to allow the scheme to progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8063/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The information requested is being researched and I will reply substantively to the Deputy in the matter as soon as possible.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 178: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to assist persons on lone parent allowance living in social housing who needs to transfer to another area in order to have any realistic prospect of employment. [8079/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

FÁS, in conjunction with an inter-agency steering group comprising the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Irish Vocational Employment Authority and Lone Parent Representative Groups – "Treoir", "One Family" and "OPEN", is currently overseeing the testing of a pilot programme, involving two groups of lone parents in two locations in Dublin, designed to support socially disadvantaged groups who are experiencing barriers to accessing training, education and ultimately access the labour market.

In addition to this, work has also commenced on mainstreaming a training programme, recently piloted, that was developed and delivered on behalf of FÁS by the one parent family organisation "One Family." The programme, featuring input from family support services including parenting and counselling, was designed to help a group of lone parents to re-engage with society and progress into training, education and employment. Finally, I would add that during 2009 more than 10,000 lone parents were placed in either a FAS training or employment scheme or into employment.

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

Question 179: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if vacancies existed in training places for young persons provided by FÁS at the end of December 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8083/10]

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

Question 180: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of training places for young persons that were provided by FÁS at the end of December 2009; if there was an increase in the number of training places for young persons in January 2010 in view of the reduction in jobseeker's payments for claimants under 25 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8084/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos.179 and 180 together.

11,600 trainees under the age of 25 completed FÁS full time training programmes in 2009. This equates to 36% of trainees who completed FÁS full time training programmes last year. Those under 25 years of age will continue to be a high priority cohort in 2010 for bridging foundation and skills programmes to help further both the technical and personal development of participants. FÁS expects that similar numbers of under 25's will avail of training places in 2010.

This year my Department will fund the provision of approximately 147,000 training and work experience places for the unemployed. This compares to the 130,000 places, which were provided in 2009 and the 66,000 provided in 2008. FÁS training courses are filled through FÁS Employment Services Gateway process, where FÁS and the client agrees an individual learning plan and the client is offered FAS training options accordingly. This year FÁS will also be placing a strong focus on providing training to priority cohorts of the unemployed including those who are under 35 years of age. In addition, I should point out the new Labour Market Activation Fund is specifically intended to assist in the creation of substantial training and education provision targeting specific priority groups among the unemployed, namely - the low skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors – such as construction, retail and manufacturing sectors, with particular emphasis on the under 35's and the long-term unemployed.