Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of beneficiaries of training provided by FÁS specialist training providers who have progressed to the labour market, broken down annually, for the years 2006 to 2009 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47826/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The information in the format requested by the Deputy is not currently readily available. I will respond to him directly with this information as soon as possible.

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 a breakdown of the rate of labour market progression of participants in FÁS training for the years 2005 to 2009 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47827/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Data on post-programme outcomes for FÁS trainees are collected by means of a large follow-up survey carried out every 2/3 years. Two such surveys have been carried out over the period covered in the Question.The most recent survey was conducted in the last quarter of 2009, and covered outcomes for trainees who completed training just over a year earlier (during the period June-September 2008). (Table a)

The survey identifies the proportion of trainees in various programmes who have a) entered employment or b) gone on to further education or training during the year since they completed courses. On the assumption that the survey period figures are representative of all leavers for the year concerned, the following estimates can be made for persons who completed the main FÁS training programmes for unemployed people in 2008:-One third of trainees had found employment, and a similar proportion had engaged in further training/education, within the year since they completed training. In total, some two thirds of participants had therefore progressed.

This most recent survey covered a period when unemployment was rising rapidly – from about 7% at the time the trainees completed their courses to almost 13% at the date of the survey.

The earlier prior survey, covering leavers from late 2005, was carried out in late 2006. Again on the assumption that the survey period figures are representative of all leavers for the year concerned, the following estimates can be made for persons who completed the main FÁS training programmes for unemployed people in 2005:- (Table b)

Over half of the trainees had found employment, and one third had engaged in further training/education, within the year since they completed training. In total, some 80% of participants had therefore progressed. This earlier survey was carried out at a time when unemployment was much lower and falling – from 4.6% at the time the trainees completed their courses to 4% at the date of the survey.

FÁS collects employment data following the completion of each training course and at various intervals following course completion when data is made available by contracted trainers and occasionally by participants themselves. However, this data does not present an accurate picture of job placement success as many participants do not choose to make further contact with FÁS after they have completed their course. It is for this reason that FÁS commissions follow up surveys as the main source of comprehensive information on the post-training experience of trainees.

Table a

Table b