Funding Boost For Clare VEC Training Programmes

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Ms. Mary Coughlan TD, made the announcement which will support education and training programmes for 5,400 additional unemployed people and will bring the total number of participant places supported by the Fund to almost 12,000 this year.

According to Minister Killeen: "The training provided by Clare VEC and other providers across Ireland focuses on giving special attention to those whose levels of education might act as barriers to full participation in the established, main-stream training and education programmes."

"Clare VEC will benefit greatly from the 12 million euro fund announced by the Tánaiste. Approximately 104 people will benefit from Clare VEC’s courses from FETAC Level 3-5 aimed at Enterprise; Self Employment; Customer Service; Caring/Healthcare; Tourism/Food; Marine Tourism; Green Economy/ Ecology and Environment Protection and Renewable Energies Sectors", added Minister Killeen.

"The Government put the Activation Fund in place to stimulate innovation in the provision of training and activation measures for jobseekers seeking to up-skill and get back into work.
The response to the call for proposals for Fund support exceeded the most optimistic expectations and the feedback from the projects already under way is positive", he concluded.

The 5,400 additional places provided under this scheme brings to more than 165,000, the number of places provided by this Government this year to train, and provide work experience for, those who find themselves unemployed.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media ( @ ) dunphypr dot com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available to download from www.dunphyprimages.com