John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures taken to secure new support for an organisation (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [7146/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Kilkenny Jobs Club has been run by Kilkenny Council Trade Unions on behalf of FÁS for over ten years. The directors of the company have informed FÁS that it is their intention to withdraw from this role. FÁS has assured me that it will seek an alternative sponsor and put in place suitable arrangements for a Jobs Club in County Kilkenny.

FÁS provides a range of other services for unemployed people in Kilkenny, including the FÁS Employment Centre which supplies guidance and information. It also funds 400 Community Employment places, four Local Training Initiatives which cater for up to 100 people and Kilkenny Employment for Youth, a 70 place Community Training Centre. For people with disabilities FÁS funds a vocational training programme in the National Learning Network and also runs the Supported Employment Programme which is a labour market initiative to assist people with a disability to secure and maintain employment in the open labour market.