Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 725: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on opening a scheme whereby all redundant apprentices and not just the 700 he proposes to retrain, as announced in the supplementary budget on 7 April 2009, would be hired to work on the school building programme in an effort to end the unemployment in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department awards contracts for the construction of school buildings in line with national and European public procurement regulations. The management of the Apprenticeship Training Scheme is the responsibility of FAS which operates under the aegis of my colleague the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment. It is my understanding that an employer must be approved and registered by FAS before they can recruit an apprentice.

I understand that FAS is taking a number of measures to assist apprentices who have been made redundant secure the relevant on the job training phases necessary to complete their apprenticeship. One such initiative that has been put in place is the Employer Based Redundant Apprenticeship Rotation Scheme which was announced by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment in December 2008. Under this scheme eligible employers are being supported by FAS to provide workplace training and assessment for apprentices who have been made redundant. Employers who have vacancies for apprentices are encouraged to post the vacancy on the FÁS Jobs Bank. Redundant apprentices who register with Employment Services are referred to the open vacancies.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 726: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools which will not be built in 2009 due to the €30 million reduction in the school building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15814/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is my intention that the impact of the €30m reduction on the School Building Programme for 2009 will be minimised to the greatest extent possible, through careful management of the budget and taking account of the very keen tender prices to be obtained in the current construction market.

With regards to the large scale projects that I have announced to proceed to tender and construction during 2009 these will be progressed on a phased basis.