Gay Mitchell
Question:133 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make assistance available to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28136/01]
Written Answers. - Training Network Programmes.
The organisation referred to by the Deputy, the CREST retail network, is one of a number of networks supported by the training networks programme. The programme, which is operated by Skillnets Ltd, was initiated by the social partners with funding from my Department and the European Social Fund. It is a pilot programme which is designed to examine the potential of networking as a model for enterprise-led training.
The programme commenced in 1999 and is scheduled to complete its operations at the end of March 2002. Sixty networks have contracted with Skillnets to carry out specified training programmes within the overall timeframe and budgetary envelope of the pilot programme.
The initiative is currently the subject of a major external evaluation commissioned by my Department. The evaluation will be concluded shortly and I will be considering whether further State support should be provided for the programme in the future, taking into account the evaluator's findings.
In the event of the programme being continued, decisions on the allocation of further funding to individual networks will remain a matter for the board of Skillnets.