Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 724: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the person who is responsible for administering the new education programme for 700 redundant apprentices as announced in the supplementary budget on 7 April 2009; the persons who are open to apply for them; the typical duration of same; the amount these places will cost to run; the institutions which will offer these courses; the efforts being made by his Department to ensure that these 700 places are being targeted towards people who are unemployed; the way the admission process to these places will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15812/09

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The new Redundant Apprentice IoT training scheme announced in the supplementary Budget is an initiative to provide an opportunity to redundant apprentices who cannot otherwise secure the job placements required in order to complete their normal apprenticeship programme, to acquire additional certified skills in the education sector.

The curriculum for the programme is being developed by Limerick Institute of Technology on behalf of all of the Institutes of Technology in collaboration with FAS, the HEA and FETAC. The programme will focus on developing core skills in maths, ICT and business skills in order to facilitate students progressing to other higher education programmes or to completing their apprenticeship at a later stage. Students will take six modules totalling 30 credits over an 11 week period on a full time basis and will receive an award at FETAC level 5.

The programme which will commence on a pilot basis in September 2009 will be administered by participating Institutes and will be targeted at apprentices who have been made redundant before being able to complete the on-the-job training required at phase 5 of their apprenticeship. When the arrangements for the operation of the programme are finalised FAS and the Institutes of Technology will ensure that all potential applicants are provided with details on where the programme will be available and how to apply for admission to the programme.

No fees will be payable by participants. The cost of the training programme will be met from within existing Department of Education and Science resources through utilising capacity that will become available in the Institutes of Technology due to the fall off in recruitment of apprentices generally. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will fund the payment of a training allowance to participants in lieu of income support.