Vol. 566 No. 2
87 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that adequate funding is available to FÁS to facilitate the continuation of the various projects to which it had committed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12556/03]
88 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received any communication from FÁS indicating the reason for the curtailment of the various projects or schemes in hand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12557/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.
The FÁS budget for 2003, which is €814,221,000, was decided in the context of the Estimates process. The budget for 2003 will necessitate some reductions in the levels of activity compared to 2002, particularly in the area of community employment where, in line with Government policy, numbers will fall from 25,000 at the end of 2002 to 20,000 at the end of this year.
The management of FÁS programmes and schemes is a day-to-day operational matter for FÁS as part of its responsibilities under the Labour Services Act 1987. FÁS, taking into account policy guidelines, will decide on the priorities between schemes and activities from within the 2003 allocation. In this context FÁS will be required to maximise the benefits to its client base of the available funding through greater efficiencies. FÁS was advised in December 2002 that it must keep within the approved allocation and that no additional funding will be made available in 2003.
