Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if responsibility for the FÁS community training centres will transfer to him; when this will happen; the future for the centres; the implications of this transfer on staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28024/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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FÁS Community Training Centres are the responsibility of this Department.

FÁS Community Training Centres are the vocational arm of the national YOUTHREACH Programme for early school leavers. They offer specific initial vocational skills training as an alternative to second level education with a view to re-engaging early school leavers in progressing their levels of skills, knowledge and competencies.

Participants in CTC are primarily young men and women between 16 and 21 years of age. During 2010 an average of 2,300 early school leavers were availing of training at any one time, and a total of just over 2,100 people finished their training. While there is a focus on ongoing improvement of services delivered by CTC, there are currently no plans to change the existing programme.