Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the funding available for training for persons on jobseekers allowance; if funding is available for courses that are not accredited under the national qualifications framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38242/10]

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

FÁS provides a range of training initiatives for the unemployed including those in receipt of jobseekers allowance. The budget for 2010 for these programmes is €296 million.

In addition to this the Labour Market Activation Fund, launched earlier this year and administered by my Department, provides training and education programmes delivered by a range of providers for those who are unemployed and wish to improve their education and skills and move closer to the labour market. The 2010 Budget for this fund amounts to €31.7 million.

Finally, the 2010 Training Networks Programme (TNP) administered by Skillnets Limited, the body charged with the promotion and facilitation of enterprise-led training of persons in employment, has been expanded to include an element of training of unemployed persons. In September of this year, Skillnets Limited issued a call for proposals for a pilot programme of training networks to be comprised solely of unemployed persons. A budget of up to €2.5m has been provided within the TNP allocation for the training of unemployed persons.

In regard to the qualifications awarded, funding is made available for programmes that are accredited up to and including FETAC level 6 or its equivalent within the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The majority of courses provided are accredited, however where the need arises funding is made available for courses that are not accredited.