First, I would like to express my thanks to you, Sir, for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment this evening.
A very strange, inexplicable and totally unacceptable situation has developed in regard to the training courses organised by FÁS. No fewer than 45 members of the staff of FÁS were summarily laid off on Friday last. Seven of those worked in the Cookstown section of FÁS in Tallaght. They were actively engaged in teaching courses — many of them intensive — to approximately 500 trainees. Among the courses affected — and this is not a comprehensive list — are the women into industry course, which was very worth while and well supported, courses on dressmaking, upholstery and a wide range of other skills. Having gone half way through the courses the people who were attending them now find themselves in the amazing position of being discarded. They were supposed to have been given a course running for 16 weeks but now, after only eight weeks, the course suddenly comes to an end. These people were told that they need not attend any more but that if matters could be organised and staff got back, they will be sent for to resume the course.
What way is that to run a State agency? These courses were critical and important. People were motivated to undertake these courses, to apply themselves to the courses and they acquired a tremendous interest in the work being done there, particularly in the women into industry course. I spoke to some of the women who have been involved and they told me they were intensely interested in the course, that they were enjoying it and felt it was extremely worth while. They just could not believe, and neither could I, that half way through the course, they were told that the instructor had been laid off. All the students agreed that these instructors and tutors were first class dedicated people doing a fine job. However, they were summarily laid off and told that their services were no longer required.
This has happened to 45 staff members, some of whom have been working for FÁS in excess of two years. After two years' dedicated service they were summarily dismissed and told their services were no longer required. There are 500 trainees around the country who have had their courses interrupted. That is totally unacceptable.
I am sorry the Minister for Labour is not here this evening. I am sure he is busily engaged elsewhere and I accept that. I gather the Minister for Education is here to deal with the matter on his behalf. There is only one thing that would be acceptable to the House tonight and that is to be told by the Minister that this will be rectified immediately and that the necessary arrangements will be made to bring in whatever staff are necessary to complete these courses and to ensure that the repeat courses to be organised within the next few months will be organised and carried on in a proper manner.
These lay-offs may be the result of the Government's programme of cutbacks. The Government say they are organising a fine scheme of FÁS training courses, yet they implement cutbacks in staff and apply embargos to tutors, teachers and trainers. What is the point in saying that Government policy is to train people in important functions which are considered to be necessary if we do not provide the staff to do it? These lay-offs are totally unacceptable, this decision is inexplicable.
Not alone were these courses not completed but a very dastardly trick was played these people. They were encouraged to get involved in these courses, to develop an interest in them and then all of a sudden, on two or three days' notice, they were told the course had to end and that they will let these people know if they can sort matters out with the staff.
These staff are dedicated people who want to work. The money they are being paid is modest in the extreme. These people are skilled in dressmaking, upholstery and other important areas. They have been shoved onto the dole queue now. The students who were in the middle of the courses are anxious to complete them but are now forced to sit at home. What are we at? What is the Minister thinking of? I hope the Minister will be able to assure the House that an end will be put to this ridiculous nonsense quickly and that these courses can resume this week, or if not, next week at the very latest.
