Human Resources Development

The E.S.F. will contribute approximately 2.1 billion E.C.U to the develoment of Human Resources in Ireland over the period 1994-1999. The Human Resources Development O.P. contains over 80% of all E.S.F. expenditure proposed in the Community Support Framework 1994 - 1999.

This O.P. contains a range of measures to address the training and educational needs of many different groups within Irish society. Through the provision of vocational education and jobs skills, the O.P. contributes to Ireland's economic development and enhances the employment prospects of unemployed people on the labour market.

The O.P. contains five separate elements, each incorporating measures directed towards achieving certain objectives:

Initial Education and Training

Continuing Training for the Unemployed

Re-Integration of the Socially Excluded

Adaptation to Industrial Change

Improvement of the Quality of Training Provision

Overall administration of the programme is the responsibility of:

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment,
Davitt House,
65a Adelaide Road,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 676 5861

Initial Education and Training

Given the age structure of the population with a large number of young people entering the labour market some 39% of E.S.F. assistance will be invested in this priority area.

This sub-programme contains a number of measures to provide education and training for young people:

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Continuing Training for the Unemployed

This sub-programme comprises measures which provide training for the unemployed.

Industry Training for the Unemployed

The objective of this programme is to provide vocational training and to ensure that the training provided is planned and in line with maximising job opportunities for the participants and fulfilling the requirements of the labour market.

FÁS monitors the changing requirements in the job market and arrange training with a view to providing the skilled personnel required to address any shortages arising.

Local Enterprise
The objective of this scheme is to devise and implement human resource strategies to encourage and facilitate business start-ups.
FÁS assists the County Enterprise Boards to devise and implement a flexible range of advice and guidance for individuals or groups wishing to set up their own enterprises.

For further details please contact:

Local FÁS Office.

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Re-Integration of the Socially Excluded

The measures under this sub-programme are designed to assist the socially excluded to participate in the workforce.

Counselling, Guidance and Placement Services
The objective of this scheme is to assist the operation of employment and training measures by providing advice and information exchange between all parties involved in the job market. FÁS uses its local offices to provide a linkage between those seeking jobs and those employers with vacancies. A free matching service is provided to supply the employer with the personnel they require.

For further details please contact: Local FÁS Office.

Community Employment
The objective of this scheme is to provide temporary employment and individual training for long-term unemployed and socially excluded.
Funding is provided by FÁS in respect of Community Employment projects which may be sponsored by public bodies or voluntary organisations. Projects must respond to an identifiable community need and there must be some development accruing to the participant from the work.

For further details please contact: Local FÁS Office.

Community Training
The objective of this scheme is to provide "on the job" training and experience for unemployed persons on community employment opportunities linked to local economic development and community needs.

Local community opportunities, identified by community groups, provide the basis for on the job training for the unemployed. FÁS in conjunction with the social partners will appraise the projects and where applicable FÁS will design and implement purpose-designed training modules around the projects geared towards improving the skills of the participants.

For further details please contact: Local FÁS Office.

Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme (VTOS)
The objective of this scheme is to provide training to alleviate the particular difficulties encountered by the long-term unemployed and by providing them with skills and qualifications which improve their prospects of finding employment.

Centres operating under the aegis of statutory Vocational Educational Committees (VE.C.s) and funded by the Department of Education, Science and Technology, operate programmes which on completion will provide certification which the participant may use to increase his/her employment prospects. Participants receive an allowance equal to the amount they would have received as social welfare recipients.

For further details please contact: Relevant VE.C. or Department of Education, Science and Technology.

Training for Ex-Offenders
The objective of this scheme is to provide training which will facilitate the re-entry of ex-offenders to the labour market.
The courses operate in a special training unit provided by the Department of Justice. Training is provided in various skill areas and each participant receives training in new technology. Courses operate for forty hours per week and last, on average, twenty weeks.

For further details please contact:

Department of Justice, Equity and Law Reform,
72-76 St. Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 602 8202

Occupational Integration of People with Disabilities
The objective of this measure is to improve the skills levels of people with disabilities to meet their vocational aspirations and to prepare them for the needs of the employment market. Training for people with disabilities is co-ordinated by the National Rehabilitation Board under the aegis of the Department of Health. Training requirements will be assessed by the National Rehabilitation Board and provided by a range of training agencies as appropriate.

For further details please contact:

National Rehabilitation Board,
25 Clyde Road,
Dublin 4.
Tel: 608 0400

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Adaptation to Industrial Change

The measures under this programme, as set out below, will update skills for those in employment.

Training for the Employed

This measure is designed to increase the quality and quantity of training within Irish companies in order to improve competitiveness, quality and productivity.

Financial support is provided for companies to provide staff training by the Training Support Scheme. Training programmes are developed based on identified needs and monitored on an ongoing basis.

Training Services to Industry

The objective of this scheme is to help Irish Industry respond to the increasing and changing demands for highly skilled personnel in the labour market. By ongoing analysis of the developing trends in Irish Industry training needs can be recognised and arrangement made for delivery of training in these areas.

For further details please contact: FÁS.

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Improvement of the Quality of Training Provision

This programme consists of these measures:

Vocational Training Infrastructure
The objective of this scheme is to assist in the provision of the infrastructure necessary to implement the education and training programmes supported under the Community Support Framework 1994-1999.

The scheme supports the investment by the Department of Education in infrastructure development at second and third level; the provision of teachers centres for in-service training of staff at the first and second levels of the system and investment by FÁS and the NRB in training facilities.

Training of Trainers
This is a measure to improve the standard of training by improving on the standards of people providing the training.
This in-career development measure at first and second level will be administered by the Department of Education, Science and Technology through the schools, Vocational Education Committees and Teacher Centres. At third level the programme is managed by the Higher Education Authority, the Regional Colleges and the Dublin Institute of Technology based on a criteria laid down by the Department of Education, Science and Technology with the aim of improving the knowledge and skills of future trainers.

Certification
TEASTAS - the Irish National Certification Authority has been established to develop, implement, regulate and supervise the certification of all extra-university third level and all further and continuing education and training programmes to ensure the delivery of high quality, efficient, market-led vocational training programmes through the development of comprehensive national assessment and certification arrangements. The existing certifying bodies - the National Council for Education Awards and the National Council for Vocational Awards - will be reconstituted as sub-boards of TEASTAS.

Promotion of Equal Opportunities
The objective of this scheme is to combat gender stereotyping and promote equal opportunities in education and training in order to increase the participation of women at all levels of Irish industry.

The scheme is implemented by the Department of Education and FÁS. It includes such areas as pilot projects in schools, the provision of guidance action to promote access by girls to non-traditional subject areas and support for voluntary or community women's education groups. FÁS has introduced a programme aimed at equal opportunities. "Women in Focus" which sets out to recognise and address the particular needs of women in the workplace.

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