Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 4

Written Answers. - FÁS Training Programmes.

Nora Owen

Question:

105 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the resources, if any, she has made available in 1999 for expenditure on on the job training in private companies; the way in which these moneys are disbursed; the amount of money available for training through FÁS or any other agency associated with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4181/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 105 together.

Funding for training people in employment, whether such training is delivered in the workplace or externally, is available under a number of subheads of my Department's Vote. Exchequer provision under these subheads is supplemented by European Social Fund Support.

In 1999, £68.2 million will be available for training people in employment, including £29.3 million for apprenticeship training. These figures include the European Social Fund component.

The funds will be disbursed through IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Shannon Development, FÁS and the county enterprise boards, in accordance with the criteria for schemes operated by each agency. A new employer-led Training Networks Programme which is being implemented on a three year pilot basis from 1999 will be administered by a company called Skillnets Limited, which has a representative board chaired by IBEC.

The total amount available through my Department and its agencies in 1999 for training both those in employment and those who are unemployed is £193.2 million. This figure includes European Social Fund support.

In addition to the funding available for training people who are already in employment, employers also benefit significantly from the resources allocated to training unemployed people. FÁS training courses for unemployed people are designed to meet the skills needs of the economy and many training courses are developed in consultation with local employers.