Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a course fee in respect of a person (details supplied) can be waived in view of the circumstances outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21081/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I am informed that the course in question is being run by a private company. FÁS Training services do not currently run a Water Meter Installer course. FÁS consider that this is a job for plumbers (a large number of which are unemployed) and requires no general skills training above those covered in their apprenticeships. There may be some training needed when the actual information is released on the requirements for retro fitting (meter security, meter registration,etc). There are a large number of private providers offering training for skilled/unskilled people for Water Meter Installation ranging from 1 to 3 days and varying in cost from €300 - €1,000 and citing circa 2,000 jobs to be created for installation of meters.

The person in question may wish to contact the Department of Social Protection to inquire about the availability of the Technical Employment Support Grant. The Technical Employment Support Grant allows Employment Services Officers to support a range of responses for clients who are experiencing major barriers in progressing from unemployment to the workforce, where this need cannot be met by FÁS directly or any other state provider, within a reasonable timeframe or at a location convenient to the jobseeker.