Vol. 495 No. 7
121 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the FÁS overseas graduate programme has been terminated with no plans to send more graduates abroad to gain valuable experience which would be of great benefit to Ireland in the years ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21180/98]
I would assure the Deputy that the FÁS overseas graduate programme is not being terminated. However, the operation of the programme is being reviewed in light of the changing skills and labour market environment at home and abroad.
As the Deputy will appreciate, skills availability is critical to the continued expansion of the economy. I am aware of the benefits of the overseas graduate programme, particularly in regard to the facilitation of inbound foreign direct investment, FDI, from South East Asia. However, given the skills shortages which are emerging, particularly in high technology areas, it is clearly prudent to review the opportunity costs attaching to the overseas graduate programme.
The position in regard to the future operation of the programme is as follows. Forty two graduates will be placed abroad this year and FÁS will continue to support and interact with these graduates during the period of their two year placement. During 1999 it is intended that FÁS will make a concerted effort to encourage more of the 450 graduates who have availed of the programme to date and are still abroad, to return to Ireland. The situation will be reviewed in mid 1999 in light of these efforts and the labour market position at that time with a view to determining the level of placements in future years.
