Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 19 February 2009, the specific assistance being offered to panel beaters and other motor industry apprentices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8184/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As stated in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 19 February 2009 a number of measures have been initiated to assist all apprentices progress and complete their apprenticeships. The Department of Social and Family Affairs are immediately referring to FÁS all redundant apprentices for assistance. FÁS then through their Employment Services and Services to Business Divisions work in collaboration to provide guidance and support in sourcing a new employer and to consider further options.

As an interim measure FÁS has amended the scheduling rules for off-the-job training to permit redundant apprentices to progress to their next off-the-job training, at Phase 2, Phase 4 and Phase 6, in accordance with the existing scheduling criteria. It is expected that in excess of 1,200 redundant apprentices from all trades will receive off-the-job training this year.

Redundant apprentices from all trades including the motor industry, may avail of FÁS existing specific skills training courses, which are trade related to enhance their employable skills and they can also avail of the range of trade related night courses, which are available in FÁS training centres. Both the construction and electrical trades are the only family of trades which have specific support available to them at present in the form of the Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme. This scheme is limited to these trades as they have been most severely affected by the downturn in the construction sector and between them they account for the majority of apprentices currently in the apprenticeship system. However, the Government and the various stakeholders will continue to consider other possible measures to assist redundant apprentices from all trades progressing their apprenticeships.