The Ministry of LabourF2 (in this Act referred to as “the Ministry” ) may with the approval of the Ministry of Finance provide, or make arrangements for the provision by other persons of, facilities (in this Act referred to as “vocational training courses”) for the training of disabled persons, [F3 being over compulsory school age for the purposes of the EducationF4 and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986], who are in need of training in order to render them competent to undertake employment, or work on their own account, of a kind suited to their age, experience and general qualifications.

The Ministry may make arrangements with any other government department for the exercise by that department of any of the powers conferred on it by this section.

Where the Ministry or any other government department makes arrangements under this section for the provision of a vocational training course by other persons, the Ministry or that department may defray or contribute towards the cost incurred by those persons of the provision of the facilities.

The Ministry may with the approval of the Ministry of Finance provide, or make arrangements for the provision by other persons of, such facilities as are mentioned in this section (in this Act referred to as “industrial rehabilitation courses”) for disabled persons, [F6 being over compulsory school age for the purposes of the EducationF7 and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986], who, by reason of unfitness arising from their injury, disease or deformity, are in need of such facilities in order to render them fit for undertaking employment, or work on their own account, of a kind in which they were engaged before they became disabled or of some other kind suited to their age, experience and qualifications, or for making use of a vocational training course.

The facilities which may be provided under this section shall consist of facilities whereby such persons may, under adequate medical supervision and under circumstances conducive to the attainment of fitness, obtain physical training, exercise, and occupation conducive to the attainment thereof, and such other incidental facilities as may appear to the Ministry to be requisite for enabling persons attending an industrial rehabilitation course to obtain the full benefit thereof.

Where the Ministry makes arrangements under this section for the provision of an industrial rehabilitation course by other persons, it may defray or contribute towards the cost incurred by those persons of the provision of the facilities.