Helen Keogh
Question:8 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment when the White Paper on training and manpower services will be published. [6213/97]
Other Questions. - Training and Manpower Services.
Eric J. Byrne
Question:42 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment when the White Paper on training will be published; the groups consulted in the course of the White Paper's preparation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6283/97]
Mary O'Rourke
Question:106 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment when it is intended to publish the White Paper on training. [6455/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 42 and 106 together. I expect to submit the final draft of the White Paper on Human Resource Development to the Government for approval very shortly. In the preparation of the White Paper, I and my Department have undertaken wide-ranging consultation with employer and employee representatives, education and training providers, community groups and other groups with an interest in and ideas for the development of our human resources.
In the process of consultation, I met the board of FÁS to discuss the various aspects of the White Paper. I presided over a number of fora on the White Paper which were attended by people covering a wide range of expertise. I also organised a consultative seminar on the White Paper held in Dublin Castle. The seminar was attended by many diverse groups and the contributions made were of considerable value. Employers, trade unions, FÁS and the industrial agencies were involved in all those consultations. In addition, submissions on the White Paper were received from many groups, including employers, trade unions and the agencies.
Will the Minister accept that FÁS is past its "sell by" date and that a different organisation is needed in the training area?
It is timely to review our approach to human resource development — that is what I have been doing in a process of consultation — and to look at the structures and their effectiveness for that task in the future. I will bring proposals to Government on a strategy for human resources that will carry us into the 21st century and as soon as a Government decision is made I will convey it to the Deputy.
Will the Minister bring the proposals to Government before Easter?
That is the target date.
In light of the comments in the report to which I referred by the director of CERT that there is an urgent need for skilled labour in that sector, does the Minister envisage a strong emphasis on training in the hotel and catering industry?
The White Paper will focus essentially on business, industry and services that come within my remit. The tourism sector is separately developed under the Department of Tourism and Trade and I do not propose to bring forward proposals in respect of that area.
Does the Minister propose to transfer the community youth and training schemes from FÁS to the Department of Social Welfare?
Any proposals relating to policy are a matter for Government decision. As the Deputy will appreciate, matters before the Government must be dealt with collectively and it would be wholly inappropriate for me to discuss such issues in advance of a Government decision.
With 280,000 people unemployed and given that there is no provision for retraining under the various schemes that are in place, is the Minister satisfied that the community youth schemes work in the interests of the unemployed?
The schemes that have been put in place are performing exceptionally well.
They are not solving the problem.
For example, the latest figures show that 36 per cent of people who come off community employment schemes go into employment and a further 30 per cent go forward for training or education. That is a considerable improvement on the position of a couple of years ago. Equally, the performance of many of our training programmes is good. I am very encouraged that some of the more recent initiatives taken by the Government to help the long-term unemployed find employment receive considerable support. Large numbers participate in those schemes, which open up direct employment opportunities.