Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - FÁS Scheme.

Michael Woods

Question:

47 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether women in the home have less access to training and FÁS schemes than men; if so, the factors which cause this discrimination; and the plans, if any, he has to tackle this inequality. [20703/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

Arising from developments which have taken place in recent years, I am satisfied that FÁS is addressing the problem of equal access for men and women to training courses and employment schemes in a satisfactory manner.

Participation by women in FÁS training and employment courses has increased steadily in recent years. In 1995, approximately 35,000 women, or 39.4 per cent of total throughput, completed either a training course or employment programme. This figure represents an increase of 3.4 per cent in the ratio of women to men, over the previous year. In terms of actual numbers of women participants, the year-on-year increase was almost 30 per cent. Through its action programme, FÁS has continually sought more and better ways of meeting women's training and employment needs and I am satisfied that the increase in the numbers of women availing of FÁS services provides ample evidence to suggest that its efforts in this regard are bearing fruit.

While training programmes are open to all persons who are unemployed and seeking employment, priority of access is given to persons on the live register, regardless of gender. In 1995, 42.2 per cent of those completing a FÁS training programme and 37.4 per cent of those completing a Community Employment (CE) Programme, the largest temporary employment initiative, were women. A major and innovative decision was taken in April of this year, which now enables adult dependants of persons on the live register, who are eligible to participate on the CE programme, to adopt their partner's eligibility and participate in the programme in their place.

Since 1990, FÁS has operated an Action Programme for Women to maximise the participation of women in all its programmes. FÁS has also been providing return to work and enterprise training courses which have a high proportion of female participation particularly among home makers. In a further response to the need for flexibility in this area, FÁS has advised me that they are currently undertaking a pilot initiative aimed at developing and testing new ways of delivering training for women. This initiative, which is being piloted under the NOW or (New Opportunities for Women) programme, aims to provide locally-based training in partnership with community groups. This training is delivered in a flexible manner to suit the needs and circumstances of participants

FÁS is also very conscious of the need for childcare facilities for women returning to work, and contributes over £5 million per annum to community based child care provision by way of support for CE projects. Over 130 CE projects have such a child care dimension. Many of these facilities provide community based child care for women undertaking training or education and for participants on community employment.