Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason there is no provision in the south-east region for carpentry and joinery apprentices for block release to institutes of technology; her proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35618/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education and Science facilitates apprenticeship training through the provision of places in institutes of technology. Some 150 blocks of 16 apprentice places are being provided throughout the country in the trade of carpentry and joinery. If additional capacity is sought by FÁS, the institutes of technology are invited to make proposals for the individual trades. The Department received a proposal from Carlow Institute of Technology to proceed with the development of a new building to house four additional blocks in the trade of carpentry and joinery. The proposal has been sanctioned and the planning of the new facility is under way. Subject to a smooth planning, tender and construction process, it is expected that the additional capacity will be in place at the end of 2006. The Department continues to liaise with FÁS, the institutes of technology and other interested parties to ensure that national training needs are met.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason carpentry and joinery apprentices are being sent on block release to facilities in Northern Ireland while she refuses to fund institutes of technology here to provide the same courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35619/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education and Science facilitates apprenticeship training through the provision of places in institutes of technology. Some 150 blocks of 16 apprentice places are being provided throughout the country in the trade of carpentry and joinery. If additional capacity is sought by FÁS, the institutes of technology are invited to make proposals for the individual trades. The Department received a proposal in 2000 from Sligo Institute of Technology for the provision of two blocks of carpentry and joinery per term, or six blocks per annum, in conjunction with Fermanagh Institute of Further Education in Enniskillen. The proposal was approved as a pilot project for three years, commencing in September 2001. It proved to be a successful example of North-South co-operation. The project was extended for a further three-year period from September 2004, when the number of carpentry and joinery blocks delivered in Enniskillen was increased to four blocks per term, which represents 12 blocks per annum. The number of carpentry and joinery blocks provided in the institutes of technology throughout the country has increased from 120 blocks in the 2001-02 academic year to 150 in the current academic year. The Department received a proposal from Carlow Institute of Technology to proceed with the development of a new building to house four additional blocks per term, or 12 per annum, in the trade of carpentry and joinery. The proposal has been sanctioned and the planning of the new facility is under way. Subject to a smooth planning, tender and construction process, it is expected that the additional capacity will be in place at the end of 2006. The Department continues to liaise with FÁS, the institutes of technology and other interested parties to ensure that national training needs are met.