Written answers
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Department of Education and Science
Departmental Funding
9:00 am
Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason approximately only â¬8.4 million out of â¬32 million has been drawn down from the labour market activation fund; the number of participants that have benefited from the first tranche of funding; the number of participants who have benefited from the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41379/10]
Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of training places that have so far been created under the activation fund; the number of persons who have so far taken up training places under this fund; the kind of training being made available to the unemployed; the areas these training programmes are being concentrated in; if she will provide a list of courses being provided under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36181/10]
Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 67 together. As part of Budget 2010, the Government announced the creation of a â¬20 million Labour Market Activation Fund, intended to deliver 3,500 places on training and education programmes for the unemployed. Its objective was to stimulate innovation in the provision of training and activation measures for jobseeker's seeking to up-skill and get back into work. The Fund is being targeted to specific priority groups among the unemployed: the low skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors - construction, retail and manufacturing sectors, with particular emphasis on the under 35's and the long-term unemployed. In order to leverage to maximum effect the potential of the market for efficient and value-for-money delivery of full or part-time education and training provision, an open tender competition was launched in March 2010. Some 370 tenders were received from public, private, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, demonstrating a level of response and quality of proposals that exceeded the most optimistic expectations. Offers of funding were initially made to 26 organisations (Phase 1 projects). On 5th August, an additional allocation of â¬12 million, was made available by the Department of Education and Skills, enabling funding to be offered to 33 additional projects (Phase 2). This brought total funding to â¬32 million for 59 projects proposing to provide up to 12,000 education and training places for the unemployed (see Appendix A for list of these courses). Twenty-six projects providing for over 6,500 education and training places, in all geographical regions, benefited from the initial fund of â¬20 million. In the main, Phase 1 projects are meeting their interim targets. As of mid-October some 3,441 or 52% of Phase 1 places were already filled, with further courses coming on stream between November 2010 and January 2011. On the basis of current information, it appears that the targets for places to be provided as set out in tenders by projects can be largely met. Thirty-three projects providing for some 5,400 places in all geographic regions benefited from the second tranche of funding allocated in August. Many projects are still in the process of recruiting participants, and some have yet to sign contracts with the Department of Education and Skills. It is therefore not possible yet to state the total number of beneficiaries from the Fund. Contractual terms provide for payments to projects in three tranches â 40% on contract signature, 30% six weeks after programme start subject to achievement of interim activity and expenditure targets, and 30% on programme completion subject to achievement of education and training provision contracted for. As of end October 2010, â¬8.4 million had been paid to projects. It is anticipated that by year's end some â¬18 million will have been drawn from the Fund. The balance, â¬14 million, represents the liability to projects for payments that fall due during 2011, subject to them meeting the delivery terms of the contract. APPENDIX A I:\Key Task 4 Labour Market\Activation\Activation Fund\Briefing & Publicity\Appendix A Sum Results LMAF May 2010-pq5nov10.doc
Tender Name | Name of Project | Participant No.s |
Focus Ireland | Three programmes - Food Industry; Warehousing, Social sector - FETAC level 5 - Dublin Inner City | 45 |
Institute of Technology, Tralee | Eight programmes levels 6-8 - Co. Kerry and South-West Region | 160 |
Career Decisions Ireland | Diploma in Career Coaching and Guidance, HETAC level 7 - Limerick, Athlone, Galway, Dublin | 100 |
University of Limerick, Kemmy Business School | Five programmes - levels 6-8, Mid-West Region | 100 |
Co. Meath VEC | Science IT Smart Skills - level 5, Co. Meath | 100 |
National Adult Literacy Agency | Write On 4 Work - level 3 recognition for prior learning - Nationwide | 500 |
Digital Skills Academy | Multi-region WebActivate Programme, level 6 - Cork, Galway, Limerick, Dublin | 200 |
National Council for Exercise and Fitness (University of Limerick) | Certificate Health and Fitness, Mid-West Region | 50 |
City of Dublin VEC | Progression Pathways Programme Level 3 & 4 | 725 |
Co Galway & Mayo VECs | Programmes on Tourism, Energy, Media, and Aquaculture, Levels 3 & 4 - Counties Mayo, Galway | 320 |
Innovo Training & Development | The Enterprise Evolution Programme - Level 8 | 80 |
Co. Dublin VEC | Labour Market Activation Programme - levels 3 to 5, Greater Dublin Area | 750 |
Shannon Consortium, Ennis | Foundation Certificate - level 5, Ennis | 30 |
Shannon Consortium, Limerick | Foundation Certificate - level 5, Limerick City | 50 |
JMD Consulting | Ecotourism Training - levels 3-5 and professional body certification - Carlow, Wicklow, Kildare, Wexford | 60 |
Carlow IT | Bachelor of Engineering in Mech Engineering, Carlow, levels 7 and 8 | 24 |
First Step Microfinance | 10 regional training networks - level 6 - Nationwide | 200 |
Innopharma Labs | Upskilling people for the pharmaceutical industry - level 7+ - Dublin | 100 |
Meath Partnership | Eco-Tourism 7 E-business Training Programme - level 5 and National Certificate in Tourism - Co. Meath | 40 |
Letterkenny Institute of Technology | Higher Diploma in Computing - Level 8, Letterkenny, Killybegs | 20 |
Tipperary Institute | Eight programmes levels 6-8 - Clonmel & Thurles, Co. Tipperary | 80 |
Career Decisions Ireland | Career 2 Fit Career Guidance Programme - level 3 credit - Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Donegal, Louth | 1000 |
ICBE - Irish Centre for Business Excellence | 10 x 4-month training programmes - levels 5 and 6 | 300 |
Limerick Institute of Technology | Four BSc courses levels 7 and 8 - Limerick City and Mid-West Region | 55 |
Meath Partnership | Wood Energy and Biomass Training programme, level 5, Co. Meath | 60 |
TBG Learning | Job Fit, level 3+, - Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Castlebar, Dundalk, Waterford, Athlone | 1440 |
Organisation | Name of Programme | TargetNumbers |
Alaymont Ltd., Dun Laoghaire | Three Programmes: Passive House Construction; Insulation Installer; Green Construction | 357 |
An Tochar Adult Education Centre, Co. Kerry | Certificate in Hotel and Catering - | 20 |
Carlow Institute of Technology | Higher Diploma in Business (Management) | 60 |
Carlow Institute of Technology | Special Purpose Award Cert in Good Manufacturing Practice â Pharmaceutical | 20 |
City of Galway VEC | Core Skills - FETAC Levels 3-5 | 45 |
Co Clare VEC | Courses from FETAC Level 3-5 aimed at Enterprise; Self Employment; Customer Service; Caring/Healthcare; Tourism/Food; Marine Tourism; Green Economy/ Ecology and Environment Protection and Renewable Energies Sectors | 104 |
Co Offaly VEC | Working Together to Get Offaly Working â FETAC level 3 and 4 foundation courses and FETAC level 5 courses in Science;, Information Technology; Business; Healthcare Support; Childcare; and Renewable Energies | 140 |
Co. Donegal VEC | FETAC level 5 Certificate in Renewable Technology | 15 |
Co. Meath VEC | Smart Skills â FETAC level 3 | 600 |
Comhchoiste Ghaeltacht Uibh Rathaigh, Co. Kerry | Courses in Healthcare Support and Business Administration â FETAC level 5 | 40 |
Cultivate/ /NICER Training, Dublin | Sustainability and the Green Economy - NFQ levels 4-6 | 1,570 |
Digi Media, Dublin | Suite of digital media skills courses - levels 4 and 5 | 100 |
Institute of Technology Tallaght | BSc in Pharmaceutical Technology â HETAC level 7 | 20 |
Dublin City University and DCU Ryan Academy | Business Innovation Programme â Level 8 Diploma Award | 120 |
Dublin Institute of Technology | Provision A-24 programmes; Provision B â HC courses | 910 |
Dun Laoghaire VEC | Green Technology and Practice â FETAC level 5 | 60 |
Dun Laoghaire VEC | Introduction to PC Maintenance with Warehouse Operations â FETAC level 4 | 15 |
Dundalk Institute of Technology, Louth | Higher Diploma in Science in Computing â HETAC level 8 | 40 |
Dundalk Institute of Technology, Louth | 3 Programmes leading to Certificates/Diploma in Business â levels 6-8 | 90 |
Financial Services Ireland/IBEC, Dublin | International Financial Services Sector Transition programme â credits at NFQ level 7 | 100 |
Fledglings Education & Training, Jobstown, Dublin 24 | Early Years Educator and Parent Support Worker Skills â FETAC level 5 | 20 |
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown | Digital Media Programme â FETAC level 4 | 40 |
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown | Certificate in CAD and Manufacturing â HETAC level 8 | 16 |
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown | Higher Certificate Sustainable Electrical Technology â HETAC level 6 | 32 |
Joe Hayes, Ballinasloe | Upskilling in de-boning and trimming techniques â NFQ levels 5/6 National Certificate in Butchery Skills | 50 |
Letterkenny Institute of Technology | Certificate in Wind Energy Technology â NFQ level 6 | 18 |
Meath Partnership | Artisan Food Skills Development â FETAC level 4 | 80 |
Network Solutions | Training programme to produce productive Air Blown Fibre Optic cable installation and repair technicians | 50 |
TBSP, Rostrevor, Co. Down | Career Development with Certificate in Logistics | 125 |
Tolka Area Partnership, Finglas, Dublin | Young Peoples Skills Foundation Initiative â FETAC level 4 | 40 |
Waterford Area Partnership Ltd | Make it Your Business Enterprise Programme â FETAC level 5 | 60 |
Waterford City VEC | General Education/Technical skills | 20 |
National College of Ireland, Dublin | Foundation Programme in Business Studies, Entrepreneurship Programme, Cert in Web Technologies and Higher Diploma in Web Technologies â NFQ levels 5-8 | 450 |
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