Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will support a matter (details supplied). [8482/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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FÁS and my Department are in regular contact concerning the provision and enhancement of a range of supports and services to the unemployed, including graduates, to assist them into employment. This includes the provision of job search services and a wide range of training and work experience interventions designed to provide unemployed individuals with the opportunities to upskill and enhance their employability.

This year my Department will fund the provision of approximately 147,000 training and work experience places for the unemployed. This compares to the 66,000 places provided in 2008. In addition, this year FÁS will be placing a strong focus on providing training to priority cohorts of the unemployed including those who are under 35 years of age.

Included in the 2010 provision for the unemployed is the FÁS Work Placement Programme. Last year, the Tánaiste and her colleague Minister Hanafin jointly launched the programme to provide unpaid work experience opportunities for the unemployed. There are two streams under this programme, one of which is exclusively for unemployed graduates. Individuals volunteer to participate in the programme and if they have been in receipt of social welfare payments they may retain these payments subject to the normal social welfare rules applying. However, individuals who are unemployed and not receiving social welfare are also free to participate in the programme.

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.