Vol. 436 No. 5
69 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his Department finances people who do courses abroad under the various training programmes in his Department; if such courses are available; and if he will give details of the numbers and moneys involved including fees, maintenance and subsistence.
I understand that the Deputy is referring to FÁS training courses. The position is that FÁS does not directly finance Irish persons to undertake courses abroad. It does operate an overseas sponsorship programme whereby Irish people are placed in employment with overseas companies for up to two years. FÁS funds the outward travel costs for the participants with the employer paying the going rate for the job. There are currently 28 participants on the programme.
FÁS also participates in a number of transnational programmes which provide short periods of top up training abroad for trainees on FÁS courses. The numbers involved would vary from time to time but would not be substantial. FÁS operates a training support scheme which provides grants to small and medium sized companies to provide training for their employees and on occasion employees are sent abroad by their employers for training.
