Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the expanded redundant apprentice placement scheme announced by the former Minister in December 2010 is still in operation. [12198/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The 'Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme' was introduced by FÁS in 2010 to provide work placement opportunities for redundant apprentices to complete their on-the-job training at Phase 3, 5 and 7. The scheme has been broadened in 2011 to include placements with employers in both the private and the public sectors. The scheme, for which €7.3m in funding is being provided, aims to provide work placements for up to 1,000 apprentices in 2011.

Under the 2010 scheme, the employment costs of the redundant apprentice, which were in line with industry wage norms, were paid by the employer with FÁS contributing a weekly subsidy of €250. A total of 443 redundant apprentices availed of this measure in 2010.

Employers in the private sector and, for the first time, the public sector, may participate in the 2011 scheme provided they meet the eligibility criteria. The 2011 scheme requires no wage contribution from the employer but instead a standard training allowance of €260 at Phase 3, €350 at Phase 5 and €400 at Phase 7 is paid to the redundant apprentice by FÁS. Eligible redundant apprentices are referred by FÁS to approved employers to participate in the scheme. The maximum period of placement is 26 weeks at Phase 3 or 26 weeks at Phase 5 or 12 weeks at Phase 7.

The 'Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme' scheme was developed by FÁS based on discussions with representatives of trade unions and employers represented on the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee. FÁS also held discussions with representatives of local authorities, the OPW, ESB Networks and other organisations in the development and implementation of the scheme.

As at 6 May 2011, 694 redundant apprentices were participating in the scheme.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost per place of each training place announced under the jobs initiative of 10 May 2011; and the cost per place of each training place announced by the former Minister in December 2010. [12201/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The recent Jobs Initiative contains details of over 20,000 additional training, education and work experience places for the unemployed. The majority of the places (15,900) will be delivered through the Department of Education and Skills through the following programmes. 6,000 places on FÁS Specific Skills Training Courses 3,000 places on the Back to Education Initiative BTEI 1,000 places on Post Leaving Certificate Courses PLC 5,900 places on the Springboard Initiative.

In 2011, my Department is funding the additional education and training places set out below from within existing resources: o 5,000 FÁS Specific Skills Training places – funded by savings within the FÁS budget o 3,000 Further Education Back to Education Initiative places – funded by a redeployment of €3m of EGF funds o 3,500 Higher Education Springboard places as provided for in the Department's 2011 allocation.

In 2011 my Department will receive an additional €8.3 million to fund the additional education and training places set out below: o €3.5m for 1,000 FÁS Specific Skills places o €2.0m for 1,000 PLC places o €2.8m for the 2,400 Higher Education Springboard places

The average cost per place for 1,000 FÁS Specific Skills places is €3,500. The average full year cost of 1,000 approved PLC place is €6 million. This does not include the provision for the Back to Education Allowance for qualifying unemployed participants. There is no standard cost per place for Springboard, however the average cost per place overall is €3,400. The Skills Development and Internship Programme announced in Budget 2011 aimed to provide up to 5,000 places to unemployed people who are at least 3 months unemployed with a 12 month internship in an organisation. The Department of Social Protection are now responsible for this Programme. Minister Burton announced details of a New National Internship Scheme in the Jobs Initiative which will replace the Skills Development and Internship.

The Work Placement Programme is providing an additional 5,500 places for the unemployed in 2011. 5,000 of the additional places will be provided in the public sector, with a further 500 additional places for graduates in the private sector. This means that the Work Placement Programme has been expanded from 2,000 places to 7,500 places. The programme is voluntary and unpaid, participants on the programme may be able retain their existing social welfare entitlements for the duration of their placement subject to the rules of the Department of Social Protection. Therefore this programme is cost neutral to the exchequer. Springboard is the new higher education Fund which is being rolled out for the first time in 2011. The intention to establish a new higher education labour market Fund was announced in December 2010, with proposed funding of €5m in 2011. On the basis of recommendations from an independent expert selection panel received in April 2011, the Government decided as part of the Jobs Initiative to support the delivery of a further 2,400 part time places through Springboard which will now deliver 5,900 part time higher education places with total funding of €7.8m in 2011. Programmes will be available at all higher education levels from certificate to masters degree level (levels 6-9 on NQF) enabling unemployed people with differing levels of qualifications, including Leaving Certificate, PLC or degree level qualifications to participate. Full details of the Springboard programmes will be published on 25 May 2011. The average cost per place overall is €3,400.