Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 1991

Vol. 413 No. 1

Written Answers. - Training and Employment Schemes.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

88 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the measures available to unemployed people to avail of work opportunities; if he has satisfied himself with the present arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Labour (Mr. O'Kennedy)

FÁS are the national employment and training authority and their function is to provide and encourage the provision of training and retraining for employment, and also to provide employment schemes, guidance and placement services.

Priority for places on training courses is given to the long term unemployed and early school leavers. FÁS will provide training opportunities for about 37,000 this year.

FÁS administers four employment schemes namely the social employment scheme, the employment incentive scheme, teamwork and the enterprise scheme. The social employment scheme and teamwork provide opportunities on a temporary basis for unemployed persons. The employment incentive scheme encourages the recruitment by employers, through the payment of wage subsidies of long term unemployed persons, early school leavers and other disadvantaged persons. The enterprise scheme encourages unemployed persons to set up their own enterprises and thereby become financially independent. About 20,000 persons will participate in these employment schemes this year.

FÁS also directly assists persons seeking employment through their employment service. Offices are located throughout the country and clinics are operated as circumstances demand in towns which do not have permanent offices.

Since the end of 1990, a selection of vacancies notified by employers to FÁS together with information on employment and training opportunities are featured on the RTE aertel service.

CERT, the Council for the Education Recruitment and Training for the hotel and catering industry, also provides opportunities for persons seeking employment. Craft training is provided for young people interested in a career in the industry and this year about 4,000 young people will participate in full-time craft training. CERT also provides opportunities for unemployed people and this year around 1,200 unemployed people will undertake short training courses with a view to obtaining employment.