Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the tendering process undergone by FÁS for the barber training pilot scheme; where the scheme was advertised; the number of responses received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27114/11]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name of the organisation that FÁS has been dealing with in relation to the barber training pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27115/11]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the financial arrangements between FÁS and the barber training pilot scheme, including the cost of the scheme; the length of the training and the projected numbers of persons to be trained and a projected average cost per trainee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27116/11]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans there are to allow additional training providers to tender for future barber training contracts with SOLAS or FÁS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27117/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 225, inclusive, together.

FÁS has received an unsolicited proposal from Barbers Lane Ltd. in relation to a pilot training programme for barbering. FÁS is currently reviewing this proposal and has engaged with the company in this regard.

In relation to procurement, there is a procedure within the FÁS contracted training procedures to pilot new training initiatives. This procedure allows for nomination of contractors for an initial pilot. Thereafter, all subsequent courses are subject to tendering as per the FÁS contracted training procedures with those contractors who are pre-qualified on the FÁS contracted trainer tendering list. As no contract has been entered into, details such as cost of the programme, duration and participant numbers are under consideration as part of this proposal.

Through the Government e-tender website FÁS recently invited training contractors, existing and new, to apply to become pre-qualified contractors and be put on the official FÁS contracted trainer list. The closing date for this application process was 31st August 2011 and applications received are currently being assessed by FÁS. The list will be advertised on a four year cycle. In the interim, any applications received after 31st of August 2011 will be reviewed periodically.