Vol. 503 No. 3
115 Mr. Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals, if any, her Department has to establish a structure for dealing effectively and uniformly with difficulties arising, including the assignation of an employer, for persons employed in community training workshops. [9738/99]
116 Mr. Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will establish some form of appropriate structure for the resolution of industrial relation problems in community training workshops funded by FÁS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9786/99]
135 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when terms and conditions of employment to people working in community training workshops will be drawn up in view of the long running problems which have occurred. [9907/99]
149 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties created by the absence of any structure capable of dealing uniformly and effectively with difficulties which arise in regard to terms and conditions of those working in community training workshops; if her attention has further been drawn to the difficulties created for trade unions in representing members working in view of the refusal of FÁS to negotiate collectively with the unions on the basis that it is not the employer and the fact that many of the management committees of the workshops do not meet on a regular basis; the steps, if any, she will take to clarify the employment status of those working in community training workshops and ensure that trade unions may negotiate on behalf of their members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10257/99]
150 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the persons who are the employers of people working in community training workshops established in the 1980s to provide community based training opportunities; the role FÁS and the management committees of the community training workshops fulfil; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is concern regarding questions such as the pay and conditions of employment for people working in these workshops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10359/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 116, 135, 149 and 150 together.
The structures under which community training workshops – CTWs – operate are as follows: CTWs are voluntary bodies which provide community based training opportunities to socially or educationally disadvantaged young people; The workshops are under the control of management committees drawn from different sectors of the community; and the management committees employ the staff in CTWs and are responsible for the terms and conditions of their employment.
FÁS's role is to provide funding for the payment of staff wages, and for payment of allowances to trainees. In 1997, a review was undertaken of FÁS's funding of CTWs. The outcome of that review was that FÁS increased its grant to the CTWs to facilitate improvements in the salary levels of CTW staff. Sick leave and annual leave entitlements of CTW staff were also improved.
While I do not have any direct function in relation to the CTWs, my attention has been drawn to a number of specific issues, including structural difficulties, which have arisen in negotiating redundancy payments for CTW staff.
I have asked my officials to examine the matter with a view to bringing about a resolution as soon as possible.
