Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the moneys allocated to the labour market activation fund for 2011; the manner in which these funds will be dispersed; if a tendering process has been launched; if so, the details of same; if not, when they will be launched; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1882/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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It is proposed that a first call for proposals for €5m under the new €20m multi-annual higher education labour market fund will be published in the coming weeks. The purpose of the Fund is to enable higher education providers to offer part-time and flexibly delivered education opportunities to unemployed people, leading to awards at Levels 6-9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The Fund will operate on a competitive basis and it will be open to public, private and not for profit higher education providers. The criteria for selection of programmes to be funded will be published as part of the Call and an Information Day for potential providers will also be organised by the Higher Education Authority who are managing the Fund on behalf of my Department. Selection of programmes to be funded will be made by an expert evaluation panel with an independent Chairperson, supported by the HEA.