Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) will be eligible to complete a FÁS plumbing apprenticeship under the scheme for redundant apprentices and when the funding will be available for them to do so. [8185/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme 2012 (RAPS) will provide opportunities for redundant apprentices to complete the minimum duration for off-the-job training and assessment with FÁS approved employers for Phase 3, Phase 5 and Phase 7 of the standard based apprenticeship programme.

I am informed that the person in question has currently completed 62 weeks of his apprenticeship only 5 of which were in unsupported employment. He completed his Phase 2 off-the- job training with FÁS from 11th May to 25th September 2009. He then completed his Phase 4 off-the-job training in DIT from 4th January to 18th March 2011.

Subsequently, the person in question participated in the Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme (RAPS) from the 9th May to 14th November 2011, which allowed him to complete Phase 3 on-the-job training of his apprenticeship. He is currently scheduled to commence his Phase 6 off-the-job training in April 2012.

If he successfully completes his Phase 6 off-the-job training he will then be eligible to complete his Phase 5 and Phase 7 on-the-job training phases by re-engaging with the Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme.

The RAPS interventions will not complete the person in question's apprenticeship, as he will still be a number of weeks short of the mandatory 208 weeks required to complete his apprenticeship.

However FÁS has recently introduced a new Competency Determination Mechanism where apprentices undertake to complete a competence assessment. If eligible apprentices successfully complete this assessment they will be deemed to have completed their apprenticeship. At the appropriate juncture the person in question may also be offered the opportunity to avail of this intervention.