Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the 15,410 training places for the unemployed that will be cut as a result of the €43 million reduction to the allocation to FÁS; the programmes and courses, the number of places, locations and duration of courses that will be cut as a result of this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47537/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Detailed discussions have commenced between officials from my Department and officials from FÁS to determine the specific implications for FÁS training programmes of the 2011 allocation for training the unemployed.

It should be noted that FÁS programmes are expected to deliver approximately 100,000 training and employment places for the unemployed in 2011. This is a significant increase on the provision of 66,000 places which were delivered by FÁS in 2008.

In addition, there are a range of other measures which my Department are still providing for the unemployed. These include the 170,000 Further Education and Training places and the 156,000 places that are available in the Higher Education Sector.

Yesterday we approved a new €20 million Higher Education Activation Fund, enhanced measures to support redundant apprentices, an expanded Work Placement Programme and the new Skills Development Internship Programme. These measures will expand the range of activation provision that will be available to the unemployed in 2011.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 87: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the reason she is reducing the training budget for the unemployed and the number of training places at a time when demand is growing and when the evidence suggests it makes sense to retain jobseekers in education and training and close to the labour market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47538/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Detailed discussions have commenced between officials from my Department and officials from FÁS to determine the specific implications for FÁS training programmes of the 2011 allocation for training the unemployed, which due to the present fiscal situation and resources available is reduced next year.

FÁS programmes are still expected to deliver approximately 100,000 training and employment places for the unemployed in 2011, which is a significant increase on the provision of 66,000 places which were delivered by FÁS in 2008. I agree that it makes sense to keep unemployed people in education and training and close to the labour market. That is why my Department will provide 170,000 Further Education places and approximately 156,000 Higher Education places next year.

In addition, next years provision for the unemployed includes a new €20 million Higher Education Activation Fund, enhanced measures to assist redundant apprentices, an expanded Work Placement Programme and the new Skills Development and Internship Programme. This represents a significant diverse range of provision that is available for the unemployed in 2011.