Not enough Fás courses for trainees

Fás is, once again, delivering a bad service to the public by not having enough places on courses for those that want them.

Thousands are waiting for Fás courses that are filled up immediately and one has to be in the right place at the right time when they are advertised.

There has been a lot of concern about executive pay in Fás and golden handshakes for poor and corrupt management, but very little on those who are supposed to be benefiting from its services.

Many community employment schemes around the country are redundant and defunct, but continue to be funded without any yield. Shop floor courses in Fás centres are subject to high levels of instructor absenteeism, like many other sectors of the public and civil service. Fás no longer sponsors apprentices, who incredibly, must find a job in order to get an apprenticeship in the first place. Course modules are changed from their original format. In many cases course duration and qualification may change suddenly and without warning.

Fás now has a litany of certification bodies which are charging trainees nasty fees and other levies. In the meantime, thousands of would-be trainees wait for courses that are not there.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Co Cork