Vol. 401 No. 6
17 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education the number of unemployed who have availed of the vocational training opportunities scheme in respect of (a) second level education and (b) other educational courses; the steps which are being taken to promote the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The throughput of persons on the vocational training and opportunities scheme since its inception has been 397. The participants have availed of a programme which has a predominantly vocational content and which also includes appropriate related academic subjects. The scheme operates under the aegis of the vocational educaton committees who promote the programme locally in various ways.
Following discussions with the ICTU, I have decided that a local co-ordinating group should be established at each centre with a promotion/advisory/ evaluation role in relation to the scheme. The group will contain representation from the VECs, local employment exchanges, the local ICTU unemployed centres and local FÁS offices.
I intend to expand the scheme significantly from September 1990, by increasing the number of places from the current level of 260 to in excess of 600 places. There are 13 centres where the scheme is currently in operation and an additional 20-25 centres will be announced in time for September next.
The Minister's reply is encouraging to a certain extent because, as she said, the numbers involved in this widely promoted scheme — which we were led to believe would lead to thousands of unemployed people availing of second level education — have been pitiful — 397 only.
Hear, hear.
I note the Minister proposes to increase that number to 600, which is encouraging. Nonetheless that is still a pitiful number bearing in mind the 230,000 people unemployed. It would appear the Minister does not envisage this scheme reaching the unemployed in any meaningful way which we understood to be the intention. Could the promotional scheme be expanded somewhat — I think she mentioned something in the region of 60 centres — to all areas in which people sign on for unemployment benefit? Could she ensure that there was some promotional outlet at such centres explaining what is available and encouraging people to participate? I understand that to be the intention of the scheme.
Bearing in mind that the scheme began in 1986 with two centres and, from September next hopefully there will be 20 to 25 centres, taking into account the extra 13 this means there will be up to 40 centres, representing a very large increase. I was concerned that publicity about and promotion of the scheme were not being sufficiently highlighted. Mr. Peter Cassells and ICTU wrote to me and came in to talk to me presenting very common sense ideas about how it could be better promoted to reach more people. We are implementing those ideas. Heretofore such information was available at unemployment exchanges only but we are now having it made available in public libraries and all sorts of places. In other words, we are undertaking an active selling job — which is what the Deputy was recommending — with regard to the scheme. That is the purpose of establishing local groups. Quite rightly the union executive pointed out to me that they are the people who know best where are the people who want to participate in the centres and a avail of further education. The 20 to 25 centres operative from September next will be backed up by an aggressive selling drive with regard to the opportunities available.
This is a serious question. Would the Minister consider advertising this scheme on RTE, at least on radio and television?
That thought has occurred to me. It will be considered within the context of the aggressive drive we intend undertaking, at least to let people know about it and then to avail of the opportunities. Certainly the committee could examine that; I suppose its cost would be another matter, but it can be examined.
That disposes of Questions for today.
