Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the advice he would offer to a trainee electrician, currently entering his or her fourth year of study, who is encountering increasing difficulty in finding the paid placements needed to complete the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9631/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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While the onus for finding an on-the-job work placement lies with the apprentice in the first instance, FÁS can assist apprentices in this regard through the provision of information on job vacancies at local FÁS Employment Services offices, through its freephone service (1800 611 116) or via its FÁS website at www.fas.ie. FÁS is currently implementing a number of initiatives to support registered redundant apprentices to progress in their apprenticeships, including work placements.

The 2011 Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme funded by my Department and administered by FÁS aims to facilitate up to 1,000 eligible redundant apprentices to complete the on-the-job training phases 3, 5 and 7 of their apprenticeships with FÁS approved employers in either the private sector or, for the first time, the public sector. Other initiatives taken by FAS to assist redundant apprentices to progress in their apprenticeships include 'Changes in Progression Rules' whereby redundant apprentices unable to complete their relevant on-the-job training phases are now permitted to progress to the next Off-the-Job training phase.

Under the 'Phase 7 Equivalent Assessments Scheme', redundant construction trade apprentices unable to complete on-the-job Phase 7 Assessments at an employer undertaken Phase 7 Equivalent Assessments at a FÁS Training Centre. The 'Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme' allows redundant apprentices who have successfully completed all apprenticeship training Phases 1 to 7 but who have not completed the statutory four years in employment as an apprentice to validate their competence by submitting a portfolio of evidence of trade related work experience gained at home and/or abroad and/or trade related training and education. Under the 'Fee Waiver Scheme', FÁS day and/or evening courses course fees are waived for redundant apprentices.