Departmental Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2012

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Ceisteanna (150)

Patrick Nulty

Ceist:

219 Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the SOLAS implementation group was initially established; the number of times it has met since its establishment; if he will ensure that his Department's funding will be maintained at an increased level to cover SOLAS, taking into account the funding transferred from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30800/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

Following the Government Decision to create SOLAS, an Implementation Group was set up to establish SOLAS. I am chairing this Group and its membership includes representatives from the Department of Education and Skills, FÁS, the Irish Vocational Education Association, the Department of Social Protection, the Department of the Taoiseach, and a representative from the private training sector. The Group held its inaugural meeting in August 2011 and has met 12 times to date in order to drive the process forward. Funding in respect of FÁS was transferred to this Department from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in 2010 at the time of the transfer of responsibility for FÁS to this Department. Funding for SOLAS will be dealt with as part of the annual Estimates process.