Written answers

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

FÁS Training Programmes

8:00 pm

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the initiatives she proposes to deal with the plight of young apprentices who are midway through their training with FÁS, but who have been made redundant due to the downturn in the construction sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18543/09]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of redundant construction trades apprentices across all apprenticeship phases currently stands at 3,067 out of a global apprenticeship population of 24,774. To address this situation the Government has introduced a number of new measures which are providing over 3,400 training places for redundant apprentices. These measures include: -

· The scheduling rules for off-the-job training have been amended to permit redundant apprentices to progress to their next off-the-job training phases at Institutes of Technology. This change has permitted a total of 302 apprentices to attend phase 2 training, 428 apprentices to attend phases 4 and 6 off-the-job training in 2008 and 1,115 apprentices to attend phase 4 and phase 6 training to date in 2009.

· The Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme, which commenced in January 2009, provides for the on-the-job training placement of up to 500 redundant apprentices with employers who have released their own employed apprentices for off-the-job training.

· FÁS and ESB Networks have agreed the placement on a phased basis of 400 redundant electrical apprentices over the period 2009 - 2010 to allow them to complete their on-the-job training and assessments. Some 94 redundant electrical apprentices are currently completing their Phase 5 and Phase 7 on-the-job training.

· The Institutes of Technology are providing 700 places per annum on an 11-week certified training programme for those redundant apprentices who have completed their Phase 4 training but where an on or off-the-job training opportunity is not currently available for them. The programme is divided into Construction and Engineering streams and provides redundant apprentices with education and training support in a number of relevant trades areas. The first programme is expected to commence in September 2009.

· Léargas has provided funding towards the cost of placing redundant Phase 7 apprentices with employers in Germany. Some 20 apprentices are currently in Germany and a further 60 apprentice placements has been approved.

FÁS with the support of relevant stakeholders is seeking to maximise all available opportunities for redundant apprentices to progress within the apprenticeship system and the situation is being monitored on an ongoing basis.

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