FÁS Work Placement and Short Time Working Training

Information

Two new labour market activation programmes came into operation in June 2009.  The Work Placement Programme  provides 9 months’ work experience for graduates and other unemployed people. The eligibility criteria for this programme were revised in December 2009. The Short Time Working Training Programme provides 2 days' training a week for people who are on systematic short-time working. Both of these programmes are administered by FÁS.

In addition, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) has set up a scheme to provide work experience for recent graduates. 

Work Placement Programme

The FÁS Work Placement Programme provides 9 months’ work experience for up to 2,000 unemployed people. The placements are on a full-time basis (minimum 30 hours per week).

The eligibility criteria for participants are as follows:

• The programme is available to people getting most social welfare payments, including Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Benefit. If you are getting a social welfare payment for at least 3 months, you may be able to keep it while on the programme.
• Unemployed graduates are eligible for both streams of the programme. This includes people who graduated in 2009.
• Unemployed people who are not graduates are eligible for Stream 2 of the programme only.
• People who are not getting a social welfare payment, or who are on a payment for less than 3 months, are eligible to take part, but will not be paid while on the programme.

There are 2 streams in the Work Placement Programme. In Stream 1 there are 1,000 places for graduates and in Stream 2 there are 1,000 places for unemployed people, with 250 of these places reserved for those aged under 34. If you are an unemployed graduate, you can apply for place in either stream. Placements are allocated to each FÁS region according to the number of people on the Live Register in that region.

The work placements are for 9 months. Placements are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis - see ‘How to apply’ below.

If you are already getting a social welfare payment, you must notify the Department of Social and Family Affairs that you are starting a placement, as this changes your status. While you are on the Work Placement Programme you may continue to get your payment, subject to the Department's approval, and only if you are getting the payment for at keast 3 months - see 'Keeping your social welfare payment' below. Arrangements have been made to allow participants on the Work Placement Programme to sign on by post if they are claiming Jobseeker's payments.

Stream 1

To be eligible for Stream 1 of the Work Placement Programme you must:

• Have been awarded a qualification at level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications, in 2009 or earlier.
• Be unemployed. You do not have to be getting a social welfare payment.

View all currently available places for Stream 1.

Stream 2

To be eligible for Stream 2 of the Work Placement Programme you must be unemployed. You do not have to be a graduate, but graduates can apply.

View all currently available places for Stream 2.

Keeping your social welfare payment

If you are getting a qualifying social welfare payment  for at least 3 months, you may be able to keep your payment while on the Work Placement Programme. You must first receive the approval of the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

The qualifying payments are:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Jobseeker’s Benefit
• Disability Allowance
• Blind Pension
• Invalidity Pension
• Illness Benefit
• One-Parent Family Payment

If you are getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit you will need written approval from the Department of Social and Family Affairs to do rehabilitative work before you can apply for the Work Placement Programme.

If you are on Illness Benefit you must be getting a social welfare payment for six months before you can apply for the programme.  

Information for participants

FÁS provides general information for people who are planning to apply for places on the programme, as well as a useful set of tips on how to find a placement. Also, if you have questions about the programme, the list of FAQs published by FÁS may answer them.

Employers

Employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors are all eligible to participate in the Work Placement Programme. 

The requirements for employers providing the work placements include:

• They must register with FÁS as a provider 
• The maximum number of placements for each employer is 10 or 10% of the workforce, whichever is the lower
• The placement must be for a full working week (minimum 30 hours) 
• The placement offered must not be in an area of work where there is an existing vacancy

In general, employers will be able to participate if they had no redundancies in the previous 3 months. However, employers who have made people redundant in the last 3 months will still be able to participate if the number of redundancies in that period is less than 5% of the workforce.

The detailed eligibility criteria for employers are available on the FÁS website.

Information for employers

FÁS provides general information for employers who are planning to offer placements. It has also published detailed information and tips for providers, as well as guidelines for providers to follow when applying to take part in the Work Placement Programme.

Gradlink

The Gradlink programme, which is operated by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) offers internships to provide work experience for recent graduates. The programme is designed to assist graduates to improve their skills during the current downturn - see 'How to apply' below. 

The Department of Social and Family Affairs has announced that participants on the Gradlink programme will be treated similarly to graduates participating in the FÁS Work Placement Programme in retaining social welfare benefits.

Short Time Working Training Programme

The Short Time Working Training Programme provides 2 days' training a week for employees who are on systematic short-time working for 3 days a week and getting a social welfare payment for the 2 days they are not working. There are 277 places available and each placement will be for 52 weeks. The initial training is provided by FÁS and the training offered is flexible in order to allow people to complete courses if they return to full-time work. The Programme allows people who have had their hours of work reduced to improve or add to their skills.

To be eligible for the Short Time Working Training Programme you must be on systematic short-time working for 3 days a week and receiving a social welfare payment for the 2 days you are not working. Systematic short-time working means that your hours of work have been reduced on a temporary basis. If you get a place on the Short Time Working Training Programme you will continue to work 3 days a week and to get your social welfare payment for the 2 days you are getting training - see 'How to apply'.

How to apply

If you are interested in participating in one of the FÁS programmes you should apply to your local FÁS office. If you are already registered with FÁS, you can record an 'expression of interest' on Freephone 1800 611 116 or (046) 973 8000.

Work Placement Programme

FÁS will refer you to an employer who is registered as a provider with the Work Placement Programme. The employer may interview you as a potential participant in the Programme.

Providers: employers who are interested in providing a work placement can find an application form on the FÁS website, together with guidelines on the processes involved.

Gradlink

When applying for an internship you should check the list on the Gradlink website. When you have identified a suitable internship you should send your CV directly to the company using the email address or contact point listed.

Where to apply