Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her proposals for the future of FÁS with particular reference to the need for direct accountability to her office and the Houses of the Oireachtas for planning and ongoing expenditure; the extent to which she expects to ensure such accountability in the future; if she will outline the degree to which she expects FÁS to play a leading role in addressing the issues arising from the economic downturn; the extent to which training and upskilling is likely to impact positively on economic recovery; the degree to which her Department, FÁS and other relevant Departments and agencies intend to interact in the rebuilding of the economy with particular reference to employment creation and retention; if she will further outline her proposals if any to examine and address the precise reason for the relocation of manufacturing or service jobs outside this country to other jurisdictions; if arising from any studies, her Department or other agencies have identified the measures needed to address the issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19754/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In his speech in the Dáil on 23 March the Taoiseach announced a number of Ministerial and Departmental changes designed to ensure closer alignment of the Government's economic objectives to the administrative functions of its departments and agencies. As part of these changes the Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions Order made on 1 May 2010, reallocated responsibility for FÁS as an Agency and its funding related to training and skills from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to my Department. Responsibility for the employment service and community service activities of FÁS and its related funding has also transferred to my Department. However, it is proposed that the renamed Department of Social Protection will assume funding and overall responsibility of FÁS employment and community services once the primary legislation necessary to achieve this has been enacted.

Looking further ahead, my colleague the Minister for Social Protection intends to bring forward more detailed legislative proposals at an early date to provide for the full transfer of the employment services and community services programmes of FÁS to his Department. In this way accountability to the Oireachtas will be assured.

These important administrative changes follow closely on from the passing of the Labour Services (Amendment) Act 2009 at the beginning of this year which provides for a significantly stronger governance and accountability structure at FÁS including, notably, the making of the Director General of FÁS accountable to the Oireachtas, as well as providing protection for "whistleblower" members of staff who report serious wrongdoing within the Agency.

The training and upskilling of the country's workforce is a vital element of this country's recovery from the current downturn both in the context of encouraging the emergence of indigenous enterprises as well as attracting inward investment into Ireland. This Department and FÁS is therefore focused on delivering high quality activation services to its priority cohorts including those with low skills or education levels; those who have been on the Live Register for an extended period of time; and those who were previously employed in sectors that have been most affected by restructuring and where recovery to near previous levels is not a realistic prospect in the short to medium term. My Department will continue to keep all labour market interventions delivered by FÁS under review in order to ensure that they remain relevant to the needs of our economy and the country's workforce.

I understand that my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation is replying separately to the Deputy on the specific matters of employment creation and the question of relocation of manufacturing and service jobs.