Enterprise: FÁS, the Competition Authority and IDA Ireland are among the many winners in the spending estimates of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Chris Dooley, Industry and Employment Correspondent, reports.
Substantial rises in funding for training and research and development are key elements of the Department's programme, announced by the Minister, Mr Martin
The figures also confirm that job support schemes such as Community Employment will be maintained at their existing levels.
Overall, the Department will have almost €1,205 million to spend next year, a rise of €80.5 million or 7 per cent on its budget for 2004. In addition, €332.6 million, an increase of 13 per cent, will be provided from the National Training Fund to support a number of initiatives.
A substantial increase in funding for on-the-job training is a major element of the Department's spending programme. This is in line with a FÁS strategy adopted two years ago and recommended in the recent report of the Enterprise Strategy Group.
A FÁS spokesman said the aim was to "upskill" people while they were still at work, particularly those in vulnerable areas of a company, as an an alternative to setting up task forces after jobs had been lost.
Announcing the Estimates, Mr Martin said overall investment in training would rise by almost €48 million next year. Most of these additional funds would be invested in in-company training.
Specifically, FÁS's training and integration budget will grow by €28 million to €335 million, a 9 per cent rise. Of this, some €12 million will be used to "dramatically" increase capacity in existing in-company training schemes, Mr Martin said.
Another key element of the programme is the extra €15 million for Science Foundation Ireland, giving it €131 million to support research and development projects.
The Competition Authority will get a 28 per cent rise in funding. A Department source said some of this would be absorbed in pensions and pay, but the measure was part of an ongoing policy of giving the authority increased resources. Its funding has more than doubled since 2000.
IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland will get respective increases of 14 per cent and 7 per cent for grants to industry.