Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of participants in the FÁS work placement programme in 2009; the projected number of participants for 2010 by graduate and non-graduate; the cost of administering this programme; the average cost per participant; the number of employers participating in this programme that have taken on one to five participants, six to ten participants, 11 to 20 participants and more than 20 participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10244/10]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To the end of December 2009, 186 people had started a placement as part of the Work Placement Programme; 129 took up graduate placements and 57 took up non-graduate placements.

To date, 473 people have started placements, 308 of which are graduates and 165 are non-graduates. There are 2,000 places available under the Work Placement Programme, with 1,000 places for the graduate stream and 1,000 places for the non-graduate stream.

There are no additional direct costs in administering the Work Placement Programme. The programme is being delivered using FÁS existing resources and budgets. The only cost per participant on the Work Placement Programme is for participants who are in receipt of a social welfare payment. Participants will continue to receive this payment from the Department of Social and Family Affairs for the duration they are entitled to. FÁS does not make any payments to participants while they are on a placement.