Information relating to the training courses and schemes administered by my Department and/or their agencies for unemployed persons and first time job seekers for the years in question is as follows:
Year
|
Non capital Expenditure including European Social grants
|
Throughput
|
|
£m
|
|
1986
|
192
|
82,256
|
1987
|
206
|
84,132
|
1988
|
207
|
75,004
|
1989
|
182
|
66,471
|
1990
|
204
|
65,252
|
Training is also provided in a significant way by other Departments and statutory agencies and the cost of this expenditure would also have to be taken into account in determining the overall level of investment in training.
Data maintained by FÁS indicates that the placement rate for mainline programmes such as specific skills training, enterprise and apprenticeship was between 65 per cent and 70 per cent over the period in question. It would not be appropriate to measure programmes which are catering for disadvantaged groups, solely on their placement in employment rates. Some of these programmes prepare young people for progression to mainline training or return to education. For CERT courses, the placement rate is nearly 100 per cent from formal craft courses and over 80 per cent for courses for unemployed persons.
There are many views on how the value of training should be assessed. The placement rate is an obvious yardstick and on that basis both FÁS and CERT perform exceptionally well. However, I asked FÁS some time ago to carry out further research in this area. This was done on behalf of FÁS by the ESRI and I understand that the results are currently being analysed.
FÁS and CERT also provide training support for persons in employment which is much sought after by employers. The economic value of such training to the employers is indicated in the fact that they use these schemes.