Monica Barnes
Ceist:60 Mrs. Barnes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the opportunities, if any, she has created for women in the home to undertake training in order to return to work. [22080/97]
Written Answers. - Training for Women.
Richard Bruton
Ceist:72 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the opportunities, if any, she has created for women in the home to undertake training in order to return to work. [22081/97]
Nora Owen
Ceist:103 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the opportunities, if any, she has created for women in the home to undertake training in order to return to work. [22087/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 72 and 103 together.
Since 1990, FÁS has operated an "Action Programme for Women" to maximise the participation of women in all its programmes. FÁS has also been providing courses such as "Return to Work" and "Enterprise Training", which have a high proportion of female participation, particularly among home-makers.
In 1996, 12,838 women participated in FÁS training programmes, which represents 43,3 per cent of total participation. In recent years, FÁS has tried to promote and improve flexibility in an effort to maximise the various provisions for training for women. In a recent example of the initiatives being taken, FÁS has advised me that they are undertaking a pilot programme aimed at developing and testing new ways of delivering training for women. This particular initiative, which is being piloted under the "NOW" or new opportunities for women programme, aims to provide locally based training in partnership with community groups. This training is delivered in a flexible manner to suit the varied needs and circumstances of participants. The project is currently operating in Clonmel, Tipperary and Athlone. If successful, FÁS proposes to introduce this approach on a national basis and, by so doing, will allow a large number of women to avail of training in a cost effective manner.
FÁS is also very conscious of the need for childcare facilities for women returning to work, and contributes over £5 million per annum to community-based childcare provision by way of support for CE projects. Over 130 CE projects have such a childcare dimension. Many of these facilities provide community based childcare for women undertaking training or education.
Through its action programme, FÁS has continually sought more and better ways of meeting women's training and employment needs and the fact the number of women participating on FÁS training programmes as a percentage of total participation is increasing at 43.3 per cent shows that its efforts are bearing fruit.
A working group chaired by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is now looking at the issue of women's access to labour market opportunities and should report to the Government in mid-1998. The working group includes social partner representation, including the National Women's Council of Ireland. The group's recommendations should help the Government plan our strategy for the integration of women into all forms of training and employment.