Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will introduce work programmes such as the old teamwork programme in order to allow newly qualified apprentices to gain practical work experience on building projects; if she will seek a requirement among contractors who take up capital projects funded by Government to require a certain percentage of apprentices to be involved in the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40856/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Teamwork scheme was a temporary employment programme for persons under 25 years old, employed on a full-time basis, which operated from the early 1980s until the mid-1990s. This scheme ran alongside the social employment scheme, which was aimed at persons over 25 years old. Both schemes were subsequently merged into the community employment scheme in the mid-1990s. Community employment continues to provide work experience for those who become unemployed.

In addition, a range of more tailored training and work experience measures are being provided specifically for redundant or newly qualified apprentices. An outline of those measures, along with advice to redundant apprentices is provided below for the Deputy's information. These measures have, will or are supporting a total of circa 4,000 redundant apprentices. Advice to Redundant Apprentices

If a FÁS registered apprentice's employment has been terminated due to redundancy or insufficient work being available they should:

inform FÁS Services to Business immediately of their redundant status;

register with their local FÁS Employment Services Office for assistance in securing new employment to enable them to continue their apprenticeship training;

keep FÁS Services to Business informed of all details relating to their apprenticeship employment with a FÁS approved employer so that this time may be credited in calculating the finish date of their apprenticeship.

Information regarding employment vacancies can also be accessed by telephoning FÁS Jobs Ireland at Freephone 1800 611 116 or on the FÁS website (www.fas.ie). Advice to recently qualified apprentices

Information is also available from FETAC on "Progression from FETAC Advanced Certificate Craft to Higher Education Courses" for recently qualified apprentices. This information is available on the FETAC Website (www.FETAC.ie). Measures to Assist Redundant Apprentices

FÁS has put in place an interim measure whereby apprentices who are made redundant can progress to the next off-the-job training phase of their apprenticeship, in line with current scheduling criteria.

FÁS has introduced, from 5 January 2009, a temporary Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme for apprentices who have been made redundant due to the reduction in activity in the Construction Industry. The trades covered by the scheme are

Brick & Stonelaying

Carpentry & Joinery

Plastering

Plumbing

Cabinet Making

Painting & Decorating

Wood Machining

Electrical

The purpose of the Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme is to give the redundant apprentice the opportunity to complete the on-the-job phase of their apprenticeship in order to gain the required knowledge, skill and competence to successfully progress to the next off-the-job phase or to complete their apprenticeship.

FÁS, with the support of employers, will place a redundant apprentice with an eligible employer, to replace an existing apprentice who has been released to attend a scheduled off-the-job phase of apprenticeship. The employer will provide workplace training and assessment for full or part of the relevant phase of apprenticeship. The maximum period of placement is 26 weeks for apprentices on phase 3 or phase 5 and 12 weeks for apprentices on phase 7.

Employers participating in the Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme are required to pay the apprentice the agreed industry rates for the specific apprenticeship trade and FÁS will make a contribution of €340 per week towards employment costs incurred based on a 39 hours working week for each week in employment. This scheme will run until December 2009.

The ESB Networks have agreed a programme with FÁS to provide on-the-job training to eligible redundant electrical apprentices at phase 5 and phase 7 of their apprenticeships. This programme will provide up to 400 places over a period of 18 months and this programme is funded by ESB Networks. Redundant apprentices may also avail of existing specific skills training courses, which are trade related to enhance their employable skills. They may also avail of the range of trade related night courses, which are available in FÁS training centres.

FÁS and the Institutes of Technology have agreed a programme, PP5, which will be available to apprentices who have successfully completed phases 1- 4 of their apprenticeships and where an on or off-the-job training opportunity is not currently available. The programme will have two streams - a construction stream and an engineering stream with a number of core skills modules related to apprenticeship and a number of electives in specific skills. The programme will provide apprentices with a level 5 FETAC award and allow for credits for access and transfer to other programmes post apprenticeship. The programme commenced in September 2009. Details of these schemes are available from any of the FÁS Services to Business Offices.

Léargas is providing funding under the EU Leonardo Da Vinci Vocational Educational Training Programme to support the placement of almost 100 redundant apprentices from the trades of electrical, plumbing, plastering and brick and stonelaying with employers in Germany and Finland to complete their phase 7 on-the-job training with assessments. To date, 30 redundant apprentices have fully completed their overseas training.

FÁS continues to monitor the situation in relation to redundant and newly qualified apprentices and will examine further initiatives in the context of the estimates process for 2010. The Deputy will be advised of the outcome in due course.