FÁS support and Kiltalown project
Birmingham asked whether FÁS could assign facilitators to help high-unemployment areas develop projects; Ahern said regional offices should improve access and were expected soon. Taylor pressed for a decision on the Kiltalown employment project, and Ahern hoped to conclude the matter within a week or two.
I was rather hoping to get on to other questions. I am concerned about the lack of progress at Question Time today and I should like very much to get on to other Members' questions. I would hope for the co-operation of Members in that regard.
Comment on this
Would the Minister accept that in the case of rural areas it is perhaps reasonable to anticipate that there will be ideas and suggestions coming forward to which FÁS can respond? However, would he accept that in the case of some of these areas that a promotion campaign of itself will not produce sufficient projects? Would he consider asking FÁS to assign people to act as facilitators in some of these areas of high unemployment to get ideas and projects going?
Comment on this
I accept that point. For the information of all Deputies, the regional structure whereby there would be a regional headquarters in communities has not finally been decided yet, but in Dublin there would probably be two or three. The regions around the country are fairly well established. That should help because, as Deputy Taylor has said it would save people having to identify back to the head office with the attendant difficulties in transport and finance. It should be easier to organise once it is on a regional basis. It is hoped that those regions will be set up by the end of this month.
Comment on this
Finally, may I have an answer on the Kiltalown project which will create some employment locally at very little expense?
Comment on this
I know of Deputy Taylor's great desire to come to a conclusion on this. The pressure he has put on me has helped me to pressure others.