124 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether he will make funding available to FÁS to continue the part-time jobs programme as initiated by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7190/97]

I presume the Deputy is referring to the CORI part-time job opportunity programme.

This is a three year pilot programme which was scheduled to end in June 1997. Given that there will be wind-down issues and that some individual projects did not start on time it will be end September before the project is completely finished. Funding is being made available in 1997 which will allow the pilot programme to be completed.