Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a trade certificate has not issued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37715/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In order to qualify as a craftsperson, an apprentice must be employed by a SOLAS approved employer and complete all seven alternating on-the-job and off-the-job training phases of their apprenticeship as well as achieving the qualifying standard throughout their apprenticeship. The minimum duration of four years (208 weeks) is from the date of registration and must include a minimum of 12 weeks on Phase 7.

An examination of person in question's apprenticeship records indicates he has only completed 104 weeks of the 208 weeks allocated to his apprenticeship. Furthermore, his apprenticeship records demonstrate he needs to successfully complete Phase 5 and Phase 7 on-the-job training phases of his apprenticeship and ensure the respective on-the-job competency assessment results are submitted to his relevant Education and Training Board Apprenticeship Services Office.

Therefore, in order for the person in question to successfully complete his apprenticeship he will need to: a) secure employment with an approved SOLAS employer; b) successfully complete Phase 5 and Phase 7 of his apprenticeship; c) ensure the necessary results of his Phase 5 and Phase 7 competencies assessments are submitted by his employer to the relevant Education and Training Board Apprenticeship Services Office; and d) provide evidence of having completed 208 weeks in employment as apprentice with a FÁS or SOLAS approved employer.

However, if he secures employment with a SOLAS approved employer and he successfully completes Phase 5 and Phase 7 of his apprenticeship but remains short of the 208 week requirement, he may apply to SOLAS for a 'Recognition of Prior Learning' exemption. In such an instance he would make a Recognition of Prior Learning application, through his assigned Education and Training Board Senior Training Adviser, to the SOLAS Redundant Apprentice Accreditation Committee for consideration.

The person in question is advised to contact his Senior Training Advisor based in the Laois Offaly Education and Training Board if he requires any further clarification on any of the above.