Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will have any role in the new National Employment and Entitlements Service replacing FÁS; if so the nature of that role; the timeline for setting up the new agency; and when details of the new agency will be provided. [5543/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the Employment Programmes and Services and Skills Training (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order which came into force on 1 May 2010, my Department assumed responsibility from the then Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation for FÁS as an Agency and for its funding and activities relating to training and skills.

Following the commencement on 1 January 2011 of the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010, the Department of Social Protection assumed the funding and overall responsibility for FÁS employment services and employment programmes. Responsibility for training and skills provided by FÁS is part of my Department's functions.

The Programme for Government states that the National Employment and Entitlements Service will integrate all employment and benefit support services into a single delivery unit managed by the Department of Social Protection. It also states that this new service will provide a "one stop shop" for people searching for employment, seeking advice about their training options or establishing their benefit options.

The timeline for setting up the National Employment and Entitlements Service and the details relating to it are matters for the Minister for Social Protection. I intend to fully support and co-operate with the establishment of this service.