FÁS To Be Replaced - Tánaiste

The Government's training and employment agency, which has been mired in controversy since 2008, is to be scrapped and replaced, according to the Tánaiste.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Mary Coughlan said she intends to replace FÁS with a new training agency.

The FÁS was plunged into controversy after it emerged the body's former director Rody Molloy and many of his fellow FÁS executives spent hundreds of thousands of euro belonging to the company on holidays to the United States, including first-class travel and expensive rounds of golf coming to some €643,000 over a period of four years.

Mr Molloy, who was often accompanied by his wife on the taxpayer funded trips, resigned late on 25 November.

Ms Coughlan made revealed her plan during the ongoing economic debate in the Dáil. She said it was her intention in the New Year to see a renewed and freshly mandated training agency assume the organisation's training work.

The Tánaiste said the eyes of many will be on Ireland over the next few weeks as it sets a course to rectify the national finances.

She said it was a difficult time for the Opposition parties but she welcomed what she called the constructive nature of some of the contributions to the economic debate.

Responding to the Tánaiste's proposition, Labour's Spokesperson on Education Ruairi Quinn welcomed the announcement before describing his dismay at the lack of any detail as to what will replace the agency.

"The lack of clarity in the Tánaiste's announcement will create uncertainty amongst those who depend on FÁS for retraining and upskilling. At a time of great doubt over the country's finances, the government should be taking swift and decisive policy decisions with a clear schedule for implementation. The massive unemployment crisis continues to deepen while this government hesitates," he said.

(DW)