Vol. 430 No. 8
13 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the way in which the moneys used by FÁS should be divided in future between training for those at work and training and other activities for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
71 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the way in which the moneys used by FÁS should be divided in future between training for those at work and training and other activities for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 71 together.
The Government is at present drawing up a national plan for submission to Brussels in connection with the next round of Structural Funds. The plan will include proposals for expenditure on training and employment programmes by FÁS and other appropriate agencies both for the unemployed and those in employment.
Primary responsibility for training those at work will continue to rest with employers. However, FÁS will play an important role in promoting and encouraging the provision of training by employers for their employees. Increased investment by employers themselves in training for their workers is, I believe, of paramount importance in the context of the Single Market and the ever-increasing competition in the market place.
Industry will be assisted by the new industry division set up in FÁS in line with the Culliton recommendations to concentrate on training for those at work, and to quote from the recently published Employment through Enterprise,“to realise the objective of training the level of skills for work to best international levels”.
Does the Minister agree with the Culliton analysis that the allocation of 10 per cent of the funds within FÁS to people in employment in industry is inadequate? Does she propose to increase that and, if so, by how much?
The Government is in broad agreement with the Culliton recommendations. Their implementation in cash terms is a matter of ongoing discussion within FÁS and particularly within the new structure in FÁS to deal with those in employment in industry. The matter will evolve as time goes on. The discussions are at a preliminary stage, but I assure the Deputy that very great attention is being paid to training for those in employment and the unemployed.
Would the Minister not agree that it would be impossible for anybody in this House to discern from her reply whether she is saying we should shift more or less money to industry? Which is it to be? Are we to have less money or the same proportion of money for schemes for the unemployed?
I made it clear that the Government is in broad agreement with the Culliton recommendations, that the industry section has been set up in FÁS with a clear mandate and is at present involved in intensive discussions with the IDA and all interested parties as to what would be an equitable distribution. One does not arrive at answers to questions like that overnight. We are going about our business in a consultative and comprehensive way.
