Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 156: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the concerns that courses offered through the Labour Market Activation Fund (details supplied) will jeopardise the highly reputable profession of Adult Education Guidance Counsellors and Service Staff; if she has satisfied herself that these courses will educate students to a sufficient standard so that they are aware of the complexities and responsibilities that are involved in the provision of meaningful career guidance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35693/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Labour Market Activation Fund is designed to assist in the creation of innovative training and education provision by private, not-for-profit and public sector providers. It is targeted at specific priority groups among the unemployed, namely the low skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors - construction, retail and manufacturing sectors – with particular emphasis on the under 35s and the long-term unemployed. Following an open tender competition in which 370 tenders were received, offers of funding were initially made to 26 organisations across the private, not-for-profit and public sectors to support specific training and education programmes for the priority groups. An additional allocation of €12 million has been made available to the Fund, raising it to €32 million in all. This has enabled the Department of Education and Skills to offer funding to 33 additional projects. This will bring to almost 60 the number of projects throughout the country being supported by the Fund. The commitment of additional monies to the Fund recognises the quality and diversity of the programmes tendered, and the overall level of demand evident for these programmes, and will bring to 12,000 the total number of places available to the unemployed supported by the fund. Tenders to the Fund were assessed by an independent evaluation committee who scored each tender under a number of selected criteria. Those tenders that scored the highest in relation to the criteria were offered contracts. To ensure that programmes who receive funding are meaningful and will offer a qualification to individuals, programmes financed under the Labour Market Activation Fund are accredited by FETAC/HETAC or a recognised industry certification body. Participants who successfully complete the programmes will receive recognised certification. These programmes will provide an opportunity for unemployed individuals to enhance their career prospects in a meaningful and realistic way and will provide a stepping stone for these people to pursue a career in their chosen profession.