Allowing qualifying asylum-seekers to look for a job first and then get a work permit is merely a "farce" if they are not allowed direct access to FAS training, according to a refugee agency.
Mr Kensika Monshengwo, chairman of the Association for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Ireland, said that for many asylum-seekers language training was a basic requirement for getting work because English was their third language.
Access through FAS to language and other skills training was an absolute necessity, he said. He was responding to Government plans to minimise bureaucracy and to increase the uptake of work permits by qualifying asylum-seekers, under a scheme introduced in July.
Last week, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, announced that letters would be issued to 2,100 qualifying asylum-seekers - those who had been in the State for more than 12 months previous to July.
Ms Harney is Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and her Department is responsible for work permits. She said in the Dail on Tuesday that she wanted to remove the requirement for employers to get the work permit. Listed eligible asylum-seekers would be issued with a suitable identification letter which the employer could verify before offering a job, she said.
The planned change goes to Cabinet for approval tomorrow, but the Minister said the relevant departments had already approved the changes.
However, direct application to FAS for training is not allowed under the scheme.
Mr Monshengwo said: "Even if you are working as a dishwasher, if someone asks you to wash a spoon and you don't know what the word is in English, you can't do it." He had no idea how many asylum-seekers would have the language and skills to go straight into employment, but it was not 2,100.
There were also cases of people with skills who had certificates which were not recognised here.
