Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will instruct FÁS to ensure construction workers who lose their jobs will be facilitated to complete their apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24053/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Given the significant reduction in construction-related activity and the subsequent increase in the numbers of construction workers who have been made redundant, I am very conscious of the need to try to accommodate apprentices in the completion of their apprenticeships. To achieve this, both my Department and FÁS have been actively examining this issue and we propose a series of actions to facilitate redundant apprentices in completing their studies. These include the following: through its employment services division, FÁS will focus on assisting redundant apprentices to source employment in order that they can complete their apprenticeship by receiving the appropriate on-the-job training and undertake the associated competence-based assessments; and FÁS will also allow apprentices who are made redundant to progress to their next off-the-job training phase of their apprenticeship, without having to do the next on-the-job phase first. A regional register of redundant apprentices is being established by FÁS. Employers who are considering recruiting apprentices will be requested to consider the employment of redundant apprentices listed on the register. The Construction Industry Federation and FÁS are meeting to resolve a number of issues in the construction sector, including redundant apprentices. FÁS will explore with the relevant authorities the accreditation of the on-the-job work experience and competency-based assessments where the apprentice has obtained employment abroad. My Department and FÁS will continue to monitor trends and activities in the industry and will work with all of the relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and satisfactory responses to assist redundant apprentices to complete their apprenticeships.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. The question was tabled prior to the enterprise committee meeting last week. I welcome the Minister's comments at the meeting. This is an important issue because between 40,000 and 50,000 construction jobs will be lost. I do not know how many will be lost by apprentices but it will probably be several thousand. It is important they should be facilitated and assisted in any way possible to complete their qualification with which they can travel or build on. Has the Minister of State given consideration to allowing apprentices to do their on-the-job work experience overseas? Significant construction work will be undertaken in the UK and the more successful economies in Europe in the coming years. Perhaps a mechanism could be found to allow apprentices to travel to London to assist with the construction work on the Underground system for the Olympic Games and to have that accredited to their apprenticeship.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Redundancies have occurred and approximately 950 apprentices have presented themselves to FÁS in recent months. FÁS is very conscious of this issue and we want to retain the skills net. There is not much point investing a great deal of time, effort and money in training people to trade level and have them fail in the final few months prior to obtaining their accreditation. FÁS is putting measures in place and the CIF is also working closely with the body. I accept and acknowledge many trades people are non-nationals and they may move elsewhere. We do not want a scenario in a few years when the economy evolves and construction picks up in other areas under the national development plan with funding for capital projects where there is a scarcity of young trained trades people.

Accreditation is an issue. If apprentices can travel abroad, there must be a recognised accreditation board in the country concerned. Those who travel to countries with a recognised accreditation system, acceptable to Ireland, should be encouraged.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I also raised this issue at last week's committee meeting. I advocate the opening of the apprenticeship route again for plasterers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and so on. I brought to the attention of the director general of FÁS, Rody Molloy, an issue affecting young electrical apprentices. Many have acquired tremendous practical skills and they are excellent. They then participate in their block release programme in the institute of technology but about six or eight months before they qualify, they go down in an academic subject. After two or three strikes, they are out. Many famous students spent a long time in university.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On the ring road.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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When I corresponded with Mr. Molloy, I asked him to examine this immediately. Very often a young person can get nervous and the academic aspect of their training becomes an obstacle, which prevents them from qualifying, even though they are experts and geniuses on the job. Could this be re-examined to give them another opportunity to ensure they qualify because they will be needed to implement the national development plan?

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I get nervous when I have to answer the Deputy's questions.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Unfortunately, the Minister of State is not showing it.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The issue has been raised in correspondence by a number of Deputies and I will follow up on it. As the Deputy said, these people are fully trained and they have an entire set of skills but they fall foul in the academic area. The director general of FÁS is examining this issue. I will contact him to let him know the Deputy raised this in the House.