Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way he has ensured that the present apprenticeship programmes for which he has responsibility have been kept responsive, competitive and productive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15558/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am very conscious of the need to ensure that all our training programmes, not just the apprenticeship programmes are kept responsive, competitive and productive in order to ensure that the Irish labour force is capable of meeting the future skills demands of employers.

FÁS has the statutory responsibility for the organisation and control of designated apprenticeship by the powers conferred on it by the Industrial Training Act 1967 and the Labour Services Act 1987. It operates the Statutory Apprenticeship system in co-operation with the Department of Education and Science, employers and unions.

The National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee oversees the development of the standards based process and advises the Board of FÁS on all matters pertaining to apprenticeship. This committee is made up of representatives of the social partners in industry, the educational sector and FÁS.

In 2003 the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee commissioned an independent consultant to examine the relevance of the existing Standards Based Apprenticeship system against contemporary requirements. Arising from this examination process the N.A.A.C. decided to conduct a comprehensive review of the 26 designated apprenticeships in 2003.

Nominated social partner, educational and FÁS technical experts reviewed each individual apprenticeship. Following the curricula re-design phase a comprehensive, structured and inclusive consultation process was initiated by the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee.

As a consequence of this process the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee presented recommendations to the FÁS Board for approval on 26 different recommendations. On receiving FÁS Board approval, FÁS commenced the implementation of the revised curricula into the training and educational system on a phased basis in 2006.

FÁS is also currently engaged in developing potentially new occupational apprenticeships in partnership with the appropriate sector stakeholders. To assist this process the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee convened a number of workshops to develop and agree a framework for the future designation of new apprenticeship occupations.