Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the problems affecting many apprentices, who have been let go by their employers, throughout the country who are unable to complete their apprenticeships; and the steps he is taking to deal with this issue. [33758/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Currently, 7,681 of a total of 18,494 apprentices are registered by FÁS as being redundant. Of this number, 4,392 can progress in their apprenticeship having reached the minimum qualifying standard while 3,289 must first successfully pass their outstanding assessment(s).

FÁS has introduced a number of measures to date which have assisted over 4,000 redundant apprentices with on and off-the-job training.

The rules for off-the-job training have been amended to permit redundant apprentices to progress to their next off-the-job training phases. To date, 2,454 have completed off-the-job training and 1,133 are currently attending off-the-job training. It is currently estimated that 3,587 redundant apprentices will benefit in 2010.

The Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme was introduced in April 2010 to provide opportunities to redundant apprentices to complete on-the-job training at Phase 3, 5 and 7. The scheme provides a weekly subsidy of €250 to the employer towards employment costs. To date 240 have commenced their on-the-job training phase, of whom 14 have completed the relevant phase.

ESB Networks are providing on-the-job training to 252 eligible redundant electrical and motor mechanics apprentices in 2010. To date, 189 redundant apprentices have completed the training with 63 currently in training with ESB Networks.

FÁS has also developed Phase 7 Equivalent off-the-job assessments for redundant apprentices for the trades of Carpentry & Joinery, Electrical, Plumbing, Brick & Stonelaying and Cabinet Making, where Phase 7 assessments cannot be undertaken on-the-job. Currently, 87 redundant apprentices have completed the assessments and a further 46 are scheduled to take the assessments.

Redundant apprentices may also avail of existing specific skills training courses and evening courses available at FÁS Training Centres to enhance their employable skills. Some 1,133 programmes have been availed of by redundant apprentices so far this year.

Under the EU Leonardo Da Vinci III Life Long Learning Programme, Léargas in collaboration with FÁS, has supported 25 redundant apprentices to complete on-the-job training overseas. 18 redundant apprentices are currently in on-the-job training overseas and 17 redundant apprentices will be scheduled for on-the-job training in the first half of 2011.

FÁS, in consultation with the Department, continues to examine further potential measures to facilitate the progression and completion of apprenticeships. One such innovative approach was the taking on of a number of former S.R. Technics apprentices by the Air Corps on a programme commencing earlier this week, to enable them to complete Phases 5 and 7 of their specialist on-the-job training.