Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 17 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 4

Written Answers. - FÁS Training Programmes.

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

76 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people who have availed of the FÁS assessments and training opportunities as a result of factory closures in Donegal, by year, from 1998 to date; the number of locations that are currently being targeted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14409/01]

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

77 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people who, having availed of the FÁS assessments and training opportunities as a result of factory closures in Donegal, are now in employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14410/01]

Cecilia Keaveney

Ceist:

78 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the follow up that is currently taking place to track those who have completed FÁS assessments as a result of factory closures in Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14411/01]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 to 78, inclusive, together.

FÁS operate a computerised tracking system to ensure that priority clients are given ongoing assistance to help them enter employment. Comprehensive support services are provided by FÁS to assist persons who lose their jobs or are made redundant following factory closures in Donegal. Priority supports are given to groups of redundant workers, for example, Fruit of the Loom, special needs clients and unemployed persons referred for supports by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to FÁS under the national employment action plan. This system operates on an individualised basis with each person being case loaded and allocated to an employment services officer.

Detailed tracking of the FÁS client status from their computer-based caseload reveals that in the case of persons made redundant from Fruit of the Loom by May of this year, 89% were not signing-on the Live Register. FÁS does not have employment details in respect of these clients. As regards the remaining 11% of persons who remain on the FÁS caseload system, these persons continue to be assisted by FÁS.

FÁS have provided details in the following table of the number of people who have been recorded as having availed of retraining as a result of redundancies or closures in Donegal in each year since 1998:

Year	NumberInterviewed	NumberInterested in Training	NumberOffered Training	NumberAccepted Training
1998	48	38	38	24
1999	987	706	686	184
2000	417	309	305	100
2001	26	18	14	13

FÁS take local actions to assist the unemployed in response to areas affected by job losses. Two recent examples are in respect of Ballybofey/ Stranorlar Nena Mode's, and Letterkenny/Donegal Foods. In addition, persons previously affected by redundancies are being retargeted where such persons require a retraining intervention.

In the time available and due to the extensive and complex nature of the FÁS support service, it has not been possible to provide a more comprehensive response beyond the preliminary information indicated in my reply above. Additional information can be gained on the full range of FÁS services and outcomes and progression of FÁS clients from the Regional Director in the north west, Mr. Michael Tully and the training services director for Donegal, Mr. Michael McGlynn and a meeting with them can be arranged at the Deputy's convenience.