AN independent complaints commissioner is to be appointed to FAS, the State training agency. It is understood guidelines for the new post are with the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, and an announcement is expected shortly.
FAS trains 29,000 people yearly and funds places for another 40,000 on Community Employment projects. All 69,000 will soon be eligible to complain about FAS or, in the case of Community Employment projects, services provided by sponsors. People who fail to be selected for a FAS course or Community Employment project will also be able to seek an investigation into the selection process.
The call for the appointment comes from FAS as part of its new "user friendly" strategy.
There have been complaints from organisations like the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed and the Scheme Workers' Alliance. However, these have mainly related to Community Employment schemes, which FAS funds but does not run. The commissioner will have power to investigate Community Employment.
A number of areas is excluded from the commissioner's remit. These include cases involving legal proceedings and where the complaint involves sums over £5,000.
Initially, FAS will continue to examine all complaints itself. People dissatisfied with the outcome will then be able to contact the commissioner. While the commissioner's findings are not binding, acceptance of them will preclude further legal action by complainants.
It, as expected, Mr Bruton approves the guidelines, the commissioner's remit will be backdated to investigate complaints lodged from January 1st, 1996.