Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills regarding the FÁS work placement programme for schools recently announced by her in circular 0066/2010, if she will confirm if these positions are open only to recently qualified graduates to enable them to obtain work experience; if schools will only be allowed to recruit persons with a recognised teaching qualification under this scheme; the positions non-teaching graduates will be eligible to apply for under this scheme; if she has considered the administrative burden this scheme will impose upon principals; the implications this programme will have for teachers who are currently relying on substitution jobs to make an income and gain experience; the safeguards that will be put in place to ensure existing members of staff will not be displaced by this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47381/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Circular 66/2010, recently issued by my Department, permits schools to participate in the FÁS Work Placement Programme (WPP). This FÁS programme is intended to assist people who are unemployed to retain their skills levels and secure work experience that will assist them in finding employment. This involves a placement for a defined period, rather than employment, and participants in this voluntary programme may be entitled to maintain their social welfare entitlements subject to the rules of the Department of Social Protection.

Placements are open to both graduates and non-graduates. The year of graduation is not a factor in these placements. Schools are entitled to apply for placements in whichever area they deem appropriate. It is not confined to teachers or SNAs but rather will offer an opportunity for schools to engage people from a wide variety of disciplines. This may include teaching or non-teaching graduates or non-graduates. The level and type of skill required will be dependant on the placement offered by the school. It provides an opportunity for schools to access skills and experience which may otherwise be unavailable. Where a person is engaged to teach, however, he or she must be a registered teacher.

Participation in the programme is entirely voluntary. Schools who feel that they cannot offer a placement or do not wish to participate in the programme are not obliged to apply to FÁS for inclusion in the scheme. However, I would encourage schools to participate in the programme. By being innovative there is a real opportunity for schools to benefit from people with a diverse range of skills and for people who are out of work to retain their skills levels and broaden their experience.

It is a condition of the programme that any placements should not displace an existing member of staff or be used to fill a vacant post and each school must sign a declaration to this effect. The programme specifies that placements may not be used to cover vacancies. This includes substitute vacancies. Where a person on placement chooses to take up paid employment with the same employer, such as a teacher on placement wishing to undertake substitute work, then he or she forfeits the placement because a person cannot be an employee with the same school with which they have a placement. However, part-time employment in another school may be possible, subject to meeting the other requirements for the placement. In addition, if an individual is in receipt of a social welfare entitlement this may also have implications for any entitlement to retain social welfare payments as they would be means-tested as a result of the income they are receiving for substitute work. This is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.