Martin Ferris
Ceist:77 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if FÁS has ever funded privately owned companies to run community employment schemes. [25004/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 10 June 2010
Ceisteanna (77)
Freagraí scríofa
The majority of Community Employment Schemes funded by FÁS are operated by Companies limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. These companies (called Sponsors) are formed by community groups 'incorporating' to comply with FÁS contractual guidelines for operating CE schemes, i.e. there has to be a legal entity. The remainder are generally made up of public bodies such as County Councils etc.
FÁS as a matter of course does not typically fund privately owned companies to run Community Employment Schemes. However, Commercial State or Private Companies are eligible for consideration as Sponsors of projects in exceptional circumstances as a vehicle for enabling such companies to make a contribution to local development.
Any Project carried out must be external to and separate from the main business of the Sponsor (i.e. a separate legal entity/public company, as above) and it must not in any way impact on the existing or future workforce of the business e.g., no displacement of staff as a result of a Community Employment project or the work carried out there under.
Such a project must not impact on the financial gains of a company's business, i.e. profits and/or benefits of the project should not directly or indirectly accrue to the Sponsor's business as a result of their sponsorship of the project or the work carried out there under.
The company's sponsorship of a project would be divorced from the businesses of the company for the life of the project. This would be incorporated into a legal agreement between the Sponsor and FÁS.