Industrial Training Act, 1967

Functions of An Chomhairle.

9.—(1) An Chomhairle shall, in addition to the functions assigned to it by any other provision of this Act, have the following general functions, namely:

(a) to provide for the training of persons for the purposes of any activity of industry, and

(b) to promote, facilitate, encourage, assist, co-ordinate and develop the provision of such training by such means as An Chomhairle considers necessary or desirable.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, An Chomhairle may do all or any of the following:

(a) provide or secure the provision of such courses or other facilities for the training of persons employed or intending to be employed in an activity of industry (including any class of such persons which by reason of age or physical or other disability is, in the opinion of An Chomhairle, at a disadvantage) as it considers necessary, having regard to any courses or other facilities otherwise available to such persons;

(b) approve such courses or facilities provided by other persons;

(c) at any time consider any employment in an activity of industry and make recommendations with regard to the nature and length of the training for any such employment and the further education to be associated with the training, the persons by and to whom the training ought to be given, the standards to be attained as a result of the training and the methods of ascertaining whether those standards have been attained;

(d) apply or make arrangements for the application of tests or other methods for ascertaining the attainment by persons employed in an activity of industry or intending to be so employed of any standards recommended by An Chomhairle and award certificates of the attainment of those standards;

(e) assist persons in finding facilities for being trained for employment in an activity of industry;

(f) carry on or assist persons in carrying on research into any matter relating to training for the purposes of an activity of industry;

(g) pay maintenance and travelling allowances to persons attending courses provided or approved by An Chomhairle;

(h) pay fees to persons providing further education in respect of persons who receive it in association with their training in courses provided or approved by An Chomhairle;

(i) for the purpose of making available to persons employed in an activity of industry or intending to be so employed better facilities for receiving training and instruction in the activity, grant scholarships to such persons as An Chomhairle selects in such manner as it considers appropriate, and such scholarships may provide for the payment of fees at educational establishments and such other payments as An Chomhairle determines;

(j) award prizes to such persons employed in an industrial activity or intending to be so employed as An Chomhairle selects in such manner as it considers appropriate;

(k) pay allowances to persons employed in an industrial activity or intending to be so employed who are going outside the State for the purpose of undergoing training or taking part in competitions and are selected in such manner as An Chomhairle considers appropriate.