Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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287. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to any issues arising where an English company will not accept a FÁS safe pass card; if the FÁS safe pass card is recognised in Britain; if there is an agreement in place with Britain or other EU member states to allow for mutual recognition of FÁS safe pass cards in respect of health and safety awareness training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22836/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that FÁS have an agreement for mutual recognition of the FAS Safe Pass Health and Safety Awareness Training Programme with the CSR Health and Safety Awareness Training Programme in Northern Ireland. Following this agreement the CSR (NI) registration cards are recognised as equivalent to the FÁS Safe Pass registration card.

There was also an agreement in place between FÁS and Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in the UK to recognise safety awareness registration cards. However, as of March 2013, the CITB UK have withdrawn this agreement, which they are entitled to do.

I am informed that safety awareness training is not regulated under UK legislation. Although a person is required to be competent and qualified it is not a requirement to hold a specified qualification or registration card. Each individual employer must ensure the competence of their workers and therefore they can accept the FÁS Safe Pass registration card as proof of safety awareness training provided they are satisfied that it is sufficient.