The Government has approved the establishment of a new education and training authority which will be called SOLAS. The new body will replace FÁS, which is to be disbanded.
The new authority will operate under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills.
The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, said its mandate would be to ensure the provision of high quality further education and training programmes to jobseekers and other learners.
SOLAS stands for Seirbhísí Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna.
Functions previously carried out by FÁS will now be taken over on a 50-50 basis by both the Department of Social Protection and Education.
The Department of Social Protection will take responsibility for programmes such as the community employment schemes, while further education and training areas will go to the Department of Education and Skills.
There will be a much greater role for the VECs, which will now take over the running of many courses currently provided by FÁS.
Mr Quinn said that SOLAS will provide high quality and flexible programmes for jobseekers and others. He said that unemployed people would be entitled to their benefits providing they took up a training course with SOLAS.
He also said the authority would provide courses that relate to new industries where jobs will be created.
