Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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232. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will allow a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary to complete an apprenticeship with FAS outside this jurisdiction; if she will recognise their work outside the State for the purposes of their apprenticeship; if her attention has been drawn to the person who cannot complete their apprenticeship within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30214/13]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the FÁS Standards Based Apprenticeship system requires an apprentice to undertake seven alternating phases of training and work experience with a company that is based in the Republic of Ireland and that is approved to train apprentices. There is no mechanism to approve companies outside of this jurisdiction. One of the reasons for this is that FÁS is charged with monitoring the system to ensure that employers are compliant with current Apprenticeship Rules and that apprentices are afforded an opportunity of a reasonable range of work experience.

A number of new initiatives have been implemented by FÁS to progress redundant apprentices. The temporary Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme (RAPS) provides supports for redundant apprentices to be placed with an employer to complete the minimum duration necessary to complete the on-the-job phases at Phase 3/5/7. Employers can apply to FÁS to participate in RAPS subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.

FÁS has also introduced a Competency Determination Mechanism (CDM). This mechanism will provide redundant apprentices who have a time deficit in their apprenticeship with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge against the occupational standard for the specified trade over a number of days in a FÁS Training Centre