Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Written Answers. - Training Programmes.

Seán Barrett

Question:

20 Mr. Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will increase the allocation of resources to employers to enable them to carry out on the job training in view of the fact that approximately £15 million is provided to employers for this purpose while over £400 million is available to FÁS for training purposes. [15743/98]

Denis Naughten

Question:

45 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will increase the allocation of resources to employers to enable them to carry out on the job training in view of the fact that approximately £15 million is provided to employers for this purpose while over £400 million is available to FÁS for training purposes. [15741/98]

Bernard Allen

Question:

77 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will increase the allocation of resources to employers to enable them to carry out on the job training in view of the fact that approximately £15 million is provided to employers for this purpose while over £400 million is available to FÁS for training purposes. [15742/98]

Nora Owen

Question:

93 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will increase the allocation of resources to employers to enable them to carry out on the job training in view of the fact that approximately £15 million is provided to employers for this purpose while over £400 million is available to FÁS for training purposes. [15754/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 45, 77 and 93 together.

The allocation of resources to facilitate employers with training for their employees has been increased in 1998.

A sum of £15.987 million has been provided in my Department's 1998 Estimates for training for the employed. This allocation primarily funds the training support scheme and the apprenticeship programme. The 1998 Exchequer allocation of £15.987 million represents an increase of approximately 95 per cent on the 1997 provision of £8.2 million. In addition, a total of £36 million is provided to FÁS from the European Social Fund for these measures up to the end of 1999.

Provision is being made in 1998 for the introduction of a training networks programme, which will facilitate employers to determine their human resources requirements and invest in training for their employees. A sum of £2 million has been made available for the initiative in 1998 and will be supplemented by a further £2.25 million approximately which is being made available to the programme from the European Social Fund up to the end of 1999.

I am satisfied that the resources available from FÁS to assist employers to train their workforce is appropriate having regard to all the demands on the public purse. While a substantial proportion of the remaining £400 million plus in FÁS's budget is used to finance the community employment scheme, I am satisfied that employers also benefit significantly from the £46.6 million and its associated European Social Fund component which is used to finance specific skills courses and other training programmes for the unemployed which address the needs of the labour market.