The Croke Park Agreement provides that there will be full support in the Civil Service and State Agencies for programmes and initiatives to support and assist the unemployed. The key programmes put in place to do this include the FÁS Work Placement Programme (WPP) and the National Internship Scheme. The active State boards under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board and the Army Pensions Board. A placement opportunity under the National Internship Scheme is currently being progressed with the Civil Defence Board.
The Defence Forces are also participating in these initiatives.
The Department of Defence is committed to playing a full role in helping to meet the targets set under the FÁS WPP and the National Internship Scheme, and this commitment extends to the agencies under the aegis of the Department.