Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 451: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on an application by a college (details supplied) in County Galway for the provision of education and training at the college for countryside residents in the west of Ireland; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there is an urgent need for a decision to be made on a proposal already submitted to her Department by GMIT to provide phases four and six apprenticeship in plastering at the college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36167/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department facilitates apprenticeship training through the provision of places in Institutes of Technology. Where additional capacity is sought by FÁS the Institutes of Technology are invited to make proposals for individual trades.

My Department has received a joint proposal from GMIT and the college referred to by the Deputy to run two blocks of Phase 4 each or Phase 6 each per term in the trade of plastering over three to five years. This proposal seeks funding from my Department for GMIT which would supplement funding sought from the Minister for Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in respect of the college referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the Minister for Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs intends to consider this proposal in the wider context of issues relating to the future of agricultural colleges. It would therefore not be appropriate for my Department to make a decision on this proposal until the wider issues involved have been considered.