Adult Learning Organisation gives a cautious welcome to new retraining initiatives
8 Apr 2009 04:14 PM
Adult Learning Organisation gives a cautious welcome to new retraining initiatives
AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation has given yesterdays supplementary Budget announcements regarding upskilling and retraining initiatives a cautious welcome.
'The government has finally recognised the importance of upskilling and retraining as a response to those who are unemployed. The announcements made yesterday are a good start, but will need to be expanded as unemployment figures continue to rise,' said Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS. Live register figures at the end of March stand at 371,271.
Under the budget, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will introduce training and reskilling measures to target those who have lost their jobs. Initiatives include extra places on third level, extra places on Community Employment Schemes and the Redundant Apprentice scheme. The Department of Social Community and Family Affairs has also revised the criteria for the Back to Education Allowance. 'We are particularly pleased to see the qualifying time period for the Back to Education Allowance reduced, as this has been identified by adult learners who contact us as a major stumbling block', she continued.
However, Ms Brady expressed concern over cuts to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. 'Inevitably, these cutbacks will have an impact on the delivery of education services in different communities, and on those who need to access them most. We ourselves have noticed a dramatic increase in the number of people contacting us about their learning options. From January to March this year over 1500 people have made enquiries with AONTAS about their further education options, and this figure will continue to rise', she said. 'We need to ensure that the services are in place to meet the demand that's out there for education and training.'
Speaking on the recent resignation of all Junior Minsters, she said, 'We are calling on the Taoiseach to actually extend the brief of the Junior Ministry of Lifelong Learning to include the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. There is a clear link between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, and the Junior Ministry is the ideal way to link those three departments in order to frame education policy decisions that respond to the needs of the workforce and our society' she concluded.
ENDS
For more information contact
Niamh Farren, Communications Officer 01 406 8220/087 911 0569
