Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of temporary, part-time or internship places created in the past two years from the various initiatives undertaken by Government; the extent to which such schemes can be augmented in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50146/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Under the current Programme for Government 2011-2016, the Department of Education and Skills is committed to providing an additional 30,000 training and education places across the education and training system, distributed in line with the recommendations of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. With this commitment in mind, to-date my Department has created over 28,000 additional education and training places across a number of initiatives which are set out as follows:

FAS Specific Skills Training programme.

Higher Education Springboard programme.

Back to Education Initiative.

Post Leaving Certificate places.

Labour Market Education and Training Fund 2012.

Springboard 2012.

In addition, my Department and its agencies will continue to explore and develop relevant, targeted innovative training and education initiatives that will further support the commitment under the Programme for Government and will equip individuals with the necessary skills to avail of future job opportunities and will provide employers with the necessary skilled workforce it requires.