Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which her Department proposes to assist in retraining and up skilling in conjunction with other Departments with particular reference to the need to use the downturn in the economy as an opportunity to improve the skills of the workforce in preparation for economic recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29297/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Programme for Government states that a new National Employment and Entitlements Service will be established under the management of the Department of Social Protection. The objective is to integrate all employment and benefit support services in a single delivery unit which will provide a 'one stop shop' for people wishing to establish their benefit entitlements, seek employment and, or, advice about their training options. A key objective of the Government in relation to the new service is to prioritise the provision of more intensive support for those on the live register who are identified as being most at risk of long-term unemployment.

As part of this reform agenda, on 1st October 2011, the Community Welfare Service transferred to the Department of Social Protection. The transfer of the Community Welfare Service to my Department is an important element in the establishment of the new National Employment and Entitlements Service. The development of this new service is the start of a major and comprehensive programme of change management entailing the integration of services previously, or currently, provided by other agencies - including both the Community Welfare Services of the HSE and the Employment Services and Community Employment Programmes of FÁS. A key principle of the new service will be that proactive engagement on the part of the individual in seeking employment and improving employability will be a precondition of benefits payments.

In July 2011, the Government decided to create a new further education and training authority called SOLAS under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills. SOLAS will facilitate a coherent integrated strategic national response across the further education and training sectors both to the National Skills Strategy objectives and to the significant increase in demand due to the current employment situation. It will facilitate the further education sector in playing a significant role in the work of the National Employment and Entitlements Service.