Written answers

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Department of Education and Science

Departmental Programmes

9:00 am

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills with regard to the labour market activation fund administered by her Department, if one of the projects under this fund (details supplied) employs a substantial proportion of staff from the United Kingdom for the purpose of administrating this scheme here; if her Department is satisfied that these staff are qualified in line with her Department's policies concerning the delivery of career guidance services here; if she is satisfied that this is a worthy use of scarce public moneys; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41597/10]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As part of Budget 2010, the Government announced the creation of a €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. Offers of funding were initially made to 26 organisations. My Department has subsequently, in August, made funding available to a further 33 projects. This was an EU-wide procurement process and was conducted according to European Union public procurement principles. These require that providers throughout the EU are afforded the opportunity to participate in the competition. Tenders were assessed by an independent Committee of experts, lead by the Chairperson of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. The Committee included representatives of Enterprise Ireland, the HEA, FAS, Pobal, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Skills. TBG Learning were among 26 organisations initially selected for funding. It is a UK-based training provider which has been contracted to provide programmes of 12 weeks duration for 1,500 unemployed people under the Labour Market Activation Fund. The company is wholly owned by the Rehab Group. The JobFit programme includes training elements, such as FETAC level 3 courses in Preparation for Work, work placements with local employers and assistance with searching for a job. TBG has recruited over 80 tutors to deliver its programme nationwide. All were resident in Ireland when recruited, and while they include a number of nationalities, are predominantly Irish citizens. JobFit staff hold a range of qualifications relevant to their roles, and many have worked in Ireland in the community, education, training, voluntary and business sectors. They have a broad range of expertise and understanding of these sectors, and an extensive network of local contacts in the communities in which they work. The capacity to deliver accredited programmes to the unemployed, including components to assist and advise participants in preparing for employment such as career guidance, are elements that would have been take into account in the accreditation of the programme being offered. Therefore, on that basis, I would not have concerns about the provider in this regard. TBG Learning has over 25 years' experience in the UK of providing programmes like JobFit, for people who are unemployed, and seeking to enter or re-enter the workforce. Some 30,000 people benefit each year from the training and support provided by TBG Learning, with 2,500 people walking into jobs, 16,000 people gaining qualifications and others progressing onto further education. I am satisfied that the programme being delivered by this provider represents good use of public monies having regard to all of the elements of the programme including, in particular, the benefits to the participants in terms of acquisition of skills, work experience and a recognised award on completion.

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