David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Finance if placements are to be made available in the Revenue Commissioners local tax offices through the public sector work placement programme stream 1; when he expects this to occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6896/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 ("Croke Park" Agreement) provides that there will be full support in the Civil Service and State Agencies with the FÁS Work Placement Programme. The Programme, which comprises two streams, stream 1 for graduates and stream 2 for other unemployed persons, provides up to 9 months work experience and aims to assist the unemployed persons to retain their skills levels and/or secure work experience that will assist them in getting a job. Placements under the scheme cannot displace an existing member of staff or be used to fill a vacant post. I have been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are engaged in the Graduate stream (stream 1) on a pilot basis in its Research and Analytics Branch. The available placements, which are in the Statistics and Economics areas, are currently advertised on the FÁS website and at http://www.revenue.ie/en/about/careers/fas-work-placement/index.html. Following the outcome of this pilot, I understand Revenue will consider the rollout of the programme to other areas across the organisation. However, given the nature and objectives of the programme it is unlikely that any suitable placements would arise in local tax offices.