Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date with regard to the transfer to other Departments of responsibility for some of the functions of FÁS; when it is expected that this process will be completed; if legislation will be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19178/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 162: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she shares the concerns of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association that the recent departmental division of FÁS including the allocation of certain responsibilities to his Department will serve to fragment and dilute the services available. [15486/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 24 together.

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 Employment Programmes and Services and Skills Training (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order of 2010, which came into force 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 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. It is hoped that this legislation will be passed before the summer recess.

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 integration of the employment services and community services programmes of FÁS with his Department.