Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 663: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to a recent recommendation from the Higher Education Authority that all plastering courses in the DIT are to be phased out by 2014; the rationale for this in view of the fact that this trade has been provided in County Dublin for more than 40 years; the basis for the decision given that Dublin has the greatest population base and therefore demand; if, in view of this, if he will reject this recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4863/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the downturn in the construction sector has resulted in a significant fall off in the numbers of apprentices being recruited nationally. The number of FÁS registered apprentices requiring education and training has therefore dropped significantly in many trades. The Higher Education Authority has consulted widely with individual institutions on the impact of the reduction in these numbers on the level of apprenticeship provision in education sector.

Having regard to the inputs received, and to enable the necessary reductions in education provision for the construction and related trades to be implemented on an objective basis, across the country, an independent evaluation panel was established, to advise the HEA in relation to the appropriate levels of provision which should be maintained within the education sector having regard to likely future demand to 2014. This process has now been completed and the HEA has contacted the relevant institutions with the proposed allocations of apprentice provision as recommended by the evaluation panel. I understand that the HEA will be in further contact with the Institutes of Technology sector to consider the implications of the recommended allocations and to assist the institutions in the management of these changes.