Vol. 571 No. 2
207 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the specific allocation of her staff whose principal duty is to ensure that her Department is effectively engaged with RAPID communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21388/03]
My Department's major contribution to RAPID is made through FÁS which implements projects in RAPID areas through the prioritisation of existing programmes such as FÁS community services, FÁS employment services, the local employment service and FÁS training services and by doing so provides additional resources.
Within the Department an assistant secretary of the labour force division supported by an assistant principal officer and a higher executive officer are responsible for ensuring that my Department is effectively engaged with the RAPID programme. The higher executive officer acts as a liaison officer to co-ordinate, monitor and report to the assistant secretary on the contribution of FÁS to the implementation of RAPID. The officer also provides departmental liaison for both ADM and FÁS. Departmental representation on the national monitoring committee, which monitors the operation of the RAPID programme is at assistant secretary level. FÁS is also represented on this committee.
