Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
190. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all FÁS course places are allocated in a timely manner to enable parents to have adequate time to organise appropriate child care. [43036/12]
View answerThe allocation of training course places is a day-to-day operational matter for FÁS.
I am informed by FÁS that all courses are put up on a Course Calendar to aid Employment Services Officers from the Department of Social Protection in referring people for relevant programmes as they arise. The Calendar in question includes information on start dates, locations, etc, and is updated a minimum of 3 months before the scheduled start dates of those courses.
Participants on FÁS training courses are notified of their selection a minimum of 2-3 weeks before their training is due to commence. However, if selected participants do not turn up on the allocated start dates, FÁS contacts additional people on the waiting list for the course in question to ensure that all assigned places are utilised.
