Written Answers. - FÁS Dispute.
Tony Gregory
Ceist:
68
Mr. Gregory
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment
if her attention has been drawn to the work of the EU Structural Funds information unit section of the ESF evaluation unit; if her Department received a communication from this unit regarding difficulties it encountered in obtaining information about the allocation of FÁS feasibility study grants; the action, if any, she will take to ensure information is released in future to facilitate the important work of this unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13780/97]
Tony Gregory
Ceist:
69
Mr. Gregory
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment
whether the Co-operative Development Council is part of the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development, 1994-99; the current membership and functions of the council; the number of meetings the council has had for each of the years from 1994 to date; the plans, if any, she has to change the functions and resources of the council; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13781/97]
Tony Gregory
Ceist:
71
Mr. Gregory
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment
her views on the establishment by FÁS of an ad hoc complaints commissioner, also called the client services commissioner; whether the commissioner cannot deal with complaints where the amount claimed or the potential claim is in excess of IR£5,000; the alternative avenues of complaint, if any, available to members of the public in the event of a complaint being outside the commissioner's remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13783/97]
Tony Gregory
Ceist:
72
Mr. Gregory
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment
the date on which her Department first learnt that the complaints co-ordinator had reached his conclusion in relation to the experience of a group (details supplied) who had sought a feasibility study grant; the background and reasons for her Department's decision to request a copy of the complaints co-ordinator's report into this affair; whether her Department is willing to receive and consider a detailed review of this report which the professional adviser representing this group has offered to provide; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[13784/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 69, 71 and 72 together.
I am advised that these questions arise from a dispute between FÁS and a professional adviser acting on behalf of Irish Publishing Co-operative, IPC, whose application in 1996 for a feasibility study grant from the co-operative development unit, CDU, of FÁS was unsuccessful. In the circumstances I propose to answer these questions together.
In accordance with normal procedure, representations made to my predecessor, Deputy Richard Bruton, in connection with the unsuccessful IPC grant application, resulted in officials of my Department making inquiries of FÁS. At the time, the FÁS complaints co-ordinator was carrying out an investigation into allegations made against FÁS by the adviser acting for IPC. My Department was informed that this investigation was being finalised in or around the beginning of February 1997. I understand that a comprehensive response issued to the adviser acting for IPC on 24 March, the final paragraph of which suggested that if the outcome was unsatisfactory the complaint could be referred to the FÁS complaints commissioner, now the FÁS client services commissioner.
Arising from my predecessor's interest in this matter, a copy of the report of the complaints co-ordinator was furnished to my Department by FÁS. This report has been the subject of extensive written and telephone correspondence between the adviser to IPC and officials of my Department over a period of five months and I am satisfied that any further review of the contents of the report is unnecessary and would serve no useful purpose.
The board of FÁS has established arrangements for its client services commissioner to consider certain types of unresolved complaints from individuals in relation to services provided by FÁS with a view to the investigation of, satisfaction, settlement or withdrawal of such complaints. The main functions of the board of FÁS in this regard are to appoint the commissioner, to pay for the operation of the scheme, to ensure the commissioner's independence, to monitor his terms of reference and to monitor the working of the scheme generally.
I am satisfied that the appointment of the commissioner represents a major development within FÁS which will provide an independent structure for individuals who may be unhappy about the manner in which their grievances have been dealt with through the normal channels. The scheme is a relatively new development and I am satisfied that the majority of individuals who would seek to avail of the service of the commissioner would come within the current claims ceiling of £5,000 as set out in the commissioner's terms of reference. However, the terms of the scheme, including the claims ceiling, are subject to ongoing review by FÁS. The existence of this scheme in no way prevents any individual from pursuing the traditional methods of resolving disagreements between parties in dispute.
I am aware of the work of the EU Structural Funds information unit which, I might add, operates under the Minister for Finance and has no connection with the ESF evaluation unit operating under my Department. I confirm that my Department has recently received a request from the information unit for a list of feasibility study grant beneficiaries under the scheme operated by the co-operative development unit of FÁS. This information has been supplied by FÁS and has been provided to the unit in the form requested. Grant aid available from the CDU is provided exclusively from Exchequer resources and there is no element of European Social Funding involved in the current grant scheme.
The work of the Co-operative Development Council, CDC, and the co-operative development unit, CDU, of FÁS is part of the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 1994-99. The membership of the CDC is as follows: Chairman, Mr. Bill Attley, General Secretary, SIPTU; Mr. Cathal Ó Finneadha, Department of Enterprise and Employment nominee; Mrs. Anne Forde, Irish League of Credit Unions; Mr. Stephen McCarthy, ICTU; Mr. Tom Redmond, Irish Federation of Workers' Co-operatives; Mr. Patrick Campbell, IBEC, and Mr. Gregory Tierney, Irish Co-operative Organisations Society Ltd.
The CDC held eight meetings in 1994, six meetings in 1995, four meetings in 1996 and three meetings to date in 1997. The terms of reference of the council, which was set up in 1988 under the terms of the Programme for National Recovery, are as follows: to stimulate greater awareness about co-operatives and their potential for development and employment; to identify the needs of co-operatives and worker co-operatives in particular; to identify and seek to correct gaps in current provisions, and to monitor the work programme of the co-operative development unit of FÁS.
I am satisfied that the council and the CDU have developed and undertaken a wide range of successful promotional activities, business support, innovative training programmes and research under these headings and I have no plans at present to alter the functions or resources of the body.
