A FÁS website, billed as an essential resource for the new unemployed, contains inaccurate and out of date information about a large range of education and training options.
The State training agency last night acknowledged the errors.
In response to queries from The Irish Times, it said an information note would be placed on the Career Directions website advising users that the content is being updated. The site is used by thousands of people every day.
A CD based on its content has also been sent to schools and college guidance counsellors. The errors were noticed by counsellors who have contacted The Irish Timesin recent days.
The list of inaccuracies includes:
The salaries of public service occupations outlined are inaccurate and many years out of date.
All third-level courses discontinued over the past two years are still detailed on the website.
There are details of only about a dozen occupations, even though the skills unit of Fás has data on hundreds of occupational sectors.
Hundreds of new and revised courses – especially in engineering, science and technology – are omitted.
The site also gives inaccurate information on third-level entry requirements, course codes and CAO points requirements.
The data referred to by Fás is drawn from the 2006 skills needs bulletin which was generated at the height of the Celtic Tiger and is totally out of date.
The website advises users to contact the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission which was abolished and replaced by the the Public Appointments Commissions five years ago.
In a statement last night, Fás said: “some of the information on the Career Directions website requires updating and this exercise is currently in progress. Pending completion of this exercise, we are placing an appropriate information note on the website informing users that the content is being updated”.
Fás has been mired in controversy since allegations about its lavish spending emerged last year.