Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the budget provision for labour market activation measures as provided for in the December 2011 budget; when tenders are being invited for the disbursement of this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15624/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Following on the successful outcomes of the Labour Market Activation Fund which commenced in 2010 and concluded last year, funding of €20 million has been allocated from the National Training Fund in 2012 for a new Labour Market Education and Training Fund, which will be managed by FÁS.

€10m has also been made available for the roll-out of Springboard 2012. A call for proposals issued to higher education institutions in February 2012. Details of the courses being funded and the number of places being supported will be available in May, following this competitive tender process.

FÁS is currently developing proposals to maximise the benefits from the funding for jobseekers, in line with activation priorities and with recommendations made in the independent review of the previous Fund: Evaluation of the Labour Market Activation Fund, 2010 – Final Report. That report is available on my Department's website: http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/des_publication_listing.htm. As soon as the proposals have been sanctioned, a tender process will be established.