Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made in ensuring apprentices at a company (details supplied) can finish their apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22220/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 60 apprentices have been made redundant by the company in question. This breaks down as follows: – 28 Phase 3 Aircraft Mechanics – 26 Phase 4 Aircraft Mechanics – 6 Phase 3 Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitters. FÁS met with all the apprentices prior to their redundancy to advise them of the services that they could provide. As a consequence a number of measures to assist these apprentices were put in place:

· § FÁS, in association with Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA), have arranged an additional phase 4 off-the-job training programme in DIT. It commenced on the 20th April last for the 28 phase 3 apprentices.

· § FÁS has made arrangements to schedule the 6 phase 3 Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitting Apprentices to an off-the-job phase 4 training placement in September 2009 and January 2010.

In addition, FÁS requested each apprentice to complete a current curriculum vitae and these have been circulated to aircraft maintenance companies requesting these apprentices to be considered for any vacancies that may arise. In addition, my Department is currently in discussions with FÁS representatives to see if anything can be arranged in sourcing on-the-job training options for the 26 phase 5 redundant apprentices that were made redundant by SR Technics.