Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 84: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the reorganisation of FÁS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41086/10]

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

The reorganisation and reform of FÁS and of the State's provision of training and employment services is a process that I initiated over a year ago. The first phase involved the putting in place of a stronger board and corporate governance structure in FÁS and this was provided for in the Labour Services (Amendment Act), 2010. The second phase, announced by the Taoiseach, involves the division of responsibility for training and employment programmes and services between the newly mandated Departments of Education and Skills and Social Protection. These changes will improve the delivery of employment, training and community services to the public by bringing together related responsibilities in these areas. 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, provided for the reallocation of responsibility for FÁS as an Agency and its related funding from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to the Department of Education and Skills. The Department of Social Protection will, following the commencement of the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010, assume funding and overall responsibility of FÁS employment services and employment programmes. The Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, 2010, which is due to be published shortly, will provide for the full transfer of FÁS employment services and employment programmes to the Department of Social Protection and this would include the transfer of relevant FÁS staff, property, land as well as certain rights and responsibilities to that Department. This will amend the Labour Services Act, 1987. In the period between the commencement of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010 and the commencement of the relevant sections of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, 2010, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) will be put in place between the Department of Social Protection and FÁS. Officials from my Department, FÁS and the Department of Social Protection are working closely together to advance this agenda. The third phase involves the re-structuring and re-mandating of FÁS as a world-class skills and training provider. I met with the Board of FÁS this morning to discuss its proposal for a new training agency. Work has commenced on this process and will continue in tandem with the integration of the employment programmes and employment services into the Department of Social Protection.