Vol. 546 No. 4
53 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason it has taken 12 months longer than expected to implement the training grants fund; the way in which applications will be evaluated; the role which has been provided for representatives of the social partners; the composition of the membership of the advisory committee; the number of times they have met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31984/01]
The National Training Fund came into operation following the passing of the National Training Fund Act, 2000, on 21 December 2000. There has been no delay in implementing the fund following the passing of the legislation by the Oireachtas.
Section 7 of the Act provides that the fund shall support schemes of training in and for employment which are approved by the Minister in amounts which are approved by the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. The schemes currently being subvented by the fund and the amounts of that subvention are set out in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2001 as an appendix to my Department's Vote. The schemes in question are operated by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Shannon Development, FÁS and Skillnets.
I recently announced the establishment of the national training advisory committee which will hold its inaugural meeting on 13 December. The committee will provide me with strategic advice in relation to national training policy and will form the basis for consultation with representatives of employers and employees in respect of the national training fund as provided for in section 7 of the National Training Fund Act, 2000.
New schemes put forward for subvention by the fund will be evaluated by my Department, taking account of the advice of the national training advisory committee. The membership and composition of the committee is as follows:
|
Anne Heraty (Chair) |
CPL Resources Plc |
|
Senan Cooke |
Waterford Crystal Ltd |
|
Aileen O'Donoghue |
IBEC |
|
Peter Rigney |
ICTU |
|
Caroline McQuaid |
Rye Valley Foods Ltd |
|
Rachel Stewart |
JSL Group Ltd |
|
Linda Tanham |
MANDATE |
