CERT independence and FÁS
Rabbitte asked whether CERT would remain independent of FÁS, and the Minister confirmed that this was settled when the FÁS legislation was enacted. O’Sullivan argued the agencies should instead be amalgamated; the Minister responded by referring to the move of offices into the inner city.
Given the commitment to provide a headquarters for CERT, would the Minister agree that the threat of amalgamation under the FÁS umbrella which hung over CERT in the not-too-recent past has now finally been disposed of and that CERT will continue indefinitely as an independent agency?
Comment on this
That was the decision made at the time the legislation on FÁS was enacted. The answer is yes.
Comment on this
Would the Minister not agree that the obvious thing to do would be to amalgamate FÁS and CERT and not build up a separate empire, which seems to be the case? If we want to streamline training activities the obvious thing to do would be to bring them both under the one roof.