asked the Minister for Labour the number of people who participated in AnCO courses in 1985 under the various courses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - AnCO Courses.
7.
The number of people who were trained on AnCO courses in 1985 was 38,456 as follows:
|
Skills Foundation Programme |
5,525 |
|
Apprenticeships |
2,424 |
|
Specific Employable Skills Courses |
14,154 |
|
Enterprise Courses |
3,798 |
|
Alternance Scheme |
1,594 |
|
Community Youth Training Programme |
5,536 |
|
Community Response |
2,172 |
|
Community Training Workshops |
2,731 |
|
Travelling People Workshops |
522 |
|
Total |
38,456 |
Is the Minister in a position to give us an estimate of the figure for this year? Will he tell the House how it compares with the 1985 figure? Will the cutbacks in his Department announced in last week's budget have any impact on the numbers?
I am not in a position to give a detailed reply to the Deputy to that question because, as he is aware, changes were made in some of the Estimates, including that of the Department of Labour, within the context of the budget. AnCO are currently reassessing their position. I will have the information available within a matter of weeks and I will then be in a position to give the detailed estimates the Deputy has requested.
I accept the difficulties the Minister may encounter because of the cutbacks announced by the Minister for Finance last week but surely he is in a position to say whether he expects that there will be more or less than the 1985 figure in 1986.
I hope there will be more in 1986 but, as the Deputy, a former Minister for Labour, will readily realise, the critical point in all of this is the number of man years as distinct from the number of participants in individual courses. AnCO have to look at a variety of options and I have requested them to match, if not exceed, what was achieved last year.
In view of the cutbacks last week and the difficulties with the ESF, can we expect a substantial reduction in the number of places on AnCO courses? Will the Minister outline the latest position in regard to the negotiations on the ESF?
That is a separate question and I am not in a position to give the Deputy a comprehensive reply.
Of the 38,000 people who were trained on AnCO courses, how many gained employment?
I do not have that information to hand.
It is a separate question.