147 Deputy George Lee asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the purpose of the FÁS communications unit; the way this unit helps the unemployed; the number of staff employed by this unit; the pay bill of all staff employed by this unit in 1997 and in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2560/10]

The FÁS Communications Unit was established in 2009. The unit forms part of the Corporate Support function in FÁS, which is also responsible for Legal Services, Freedom of Information, Oireachtas Liaison & Parliamentary Questions, Insurances and secretarial services to the Board of FÁS. It provides a range of services to both FÁS clients and staff. These services include:

Communication of information on all FÁS programmes, services and new initiatives;

Event management, advertising, publicity and marketing;

Production of Labour Market Surveys and other FÁS publications;

Media liaison;

The integration of new technologies to create improved web-based communication channels for clients and staff.

The Communications Unit has a staff of 6. The pay bill of this unit in 2009 is currently being compiled and will be communicated to the Deputy.

148 Deputy George Lee asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff employed at each of the FÁS training centres; the pay bill of the staff employed at each training centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2562/10]

The number of staff employed at each of the FÁS Training Centres is set out as follows.

The pay bills of these centres are currently being compiled and will be communicated to the Deputy.