Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she has taken to reform the operations of FÁS in so far as it falls under her remit. [21324/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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From 1 January 2011 policy and funding responsibility for FÁS functions in relation to employment and community services was transferred to my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010. This is a transitional arrangement. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 provides for the transfer of all employment and community services, including staff and other resources, from FÁS to the Department of Social Protection. It is anticipated that this will be completed before the end of this year. Since January my Department and FÁS have been working closely to ensure that the various HR and administrative systems, such as payroll records and IT systems are put in place for the full transfer of staff and services before the end of the year. An intensive IR process is also underway which is dealing with staff terms and conditions.

To facilitate reform and to speed up the integration process at local level, a number of joint planning workshops between FÁS, CWS and DSP staff and senior management have taken place. Staff at local level have begun to implement integrated approaches to service provision following the identification by FÁS and DSP front line staff of actions and 'quick wins' that can be undertaken to support the integration process and deliver early results. To accelerate the reform process, FÁS and the Department are working on a number of pilot projects in relation to the development of case management, the identification of those who are most at risk of falling into long-term unemployment, and the provision of appropriately tailored responses to their needs. These pilot projects will be completed and evaluated after which approaches will be developed for their roll out nationwide as part of the National Employment and Entitlements Service.

As part of such an approach, FÁS and the Department worked together on the development the new National Internship Scheme JobsBridge which was launched by the Taoiseach on 30th June 2011. It is expected that this scheme will provide 5,000 internships of up to nine months duration and participants will retain their social welfare entitlements and will also receive a 'top-up' of €50 per week.