asked the Minister for Labour the numbers of persons who have been taken on under the new Youthreach programme; and the amount of money allocated in 1989 to this programme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Youthreach Programme.
16.
Mr. Ahern
Youthreach was introduced last October jointly by the Minister for Education and myself to assist early school leavers with little or no educational qualifications. The programme will provide up to two years co-ordinated and integrated training, work experience and temporary employment. Up to 8 May 1989, more than 1,200 young people had started training on Youthreach of whom approximately 800 would have left school early without any qualifications.
Youthreach is funded mainly through the allocations for FÁS and the vocational education committees. Under the programme young people are directed to a newly designed VEC programme and to a number of suitable FÁS courses. The main FÁS courses are the skills foundation programme and community training workshops. The FÁS budget for the skills foundation programme in 1989 is £4 million approximately while the budget for community training workshops is £8 million approximately. In addition, FÁS have set aside £600,000 to meet the cost of the weekly allowances which will be paid to those attending the special educational programme for young people who have left school without any qualifications.
The Deputy might like to contact the Minister for Education for information on the cost of the VEC element of Youthreach.
I agree that further information has to come from the Department of Education but will the Minister assure me about the continuation of this very important programme for young people and that sufficient moneys will be made available in the coming budget?
Yes, I can give the Deputy that assurance. The target for this year is to reach about 2,500—about 2,400 people are to be trained by FÁS and 600 by the VEC. As the VEC become more involved with the programme, their figures will go up and the FAS figures will come down.