Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

The House will be well aware that the construction sector has continued to experience a reduction in the level of activity in 2008 compared to previous years. In the recent past, there has been a consequential reduction in the level of employment in the sector.

The level of recruitment of apprentices by employers is also at a lower level — some 44% lower than in 2007 — and there has been an increase in the number of apprentices notified to FÁS as redundant. The current apprenticeship population is 26,479. Of these, 2,859 are recorded as redundant on foot of notification to FÁS.

In response to these trends the Tánaiste and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have been working with FÁS to put in place a number of measures in an effort to address the problems now confronting redundant apprentices, and especially those in the construction trades.

The measures developed to date will alleviate the situation and include the following. Through its employment services offices, FÁS is providing individual supports to redundant apprentices in their efforts to get work that will allow them to complete their apprenticeship with an approved employer. In the absence of options for workplace experience, redundant apprentices are also now being scheduled early for their off-the-job training phase in the education sector. This means that they do not need to do their on-the-job phase and can go directly to the next off-the-job phase. Accordingly, there are currently 123 redundant apprentices attending phase 2 and 316 are attending phases 4 and 6. FÁS has scheduled another 505 redundant apprentices to attend their off-the-job training phase over the next number of weeks.

Working with FÁS and other interests, the Tánaiste is in the process of finalising another initiative that should be of material benefit to apprentices in construction trades. The key objective will be to assist such apprentices to complete their in-work training and assessment with employers so that they can move forward in their apprenticeships. The scheme, the full details of which will be announced in the near future, will involve incentives for qualified employers to take on such apprentices over the next 12 months. We are hopeful that in the order of 500 apprentices can be helped in this way.

FÁS is also looking at the advantages that EU sponsored programmes that facilitate mobility for workers and apprentices can offer. In line with the thrust of these programmes, there are possibilities for temporary placements abroad that could be of real benefit to redundant apprentices. Separately, we will explore what other positive options might be available to assist our redundant apprentices in the short to medium term.

FÁS is responding quickly and with flexibility to the challenge of redundant apprentices and there will be a significant announcement on this in the near future.

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