John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

239. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the apprenticeship of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was terminated; if she will investigate the fact that the person was informed that the results of the examination could have been altered to allow them to complete the apprenticeship; if she will now conduct a review of this case, and offer the person a direct meeting with SOLAS to resolve matters, as arising from the termination the person lost a placement with an employer; and is she will expedite a positive response. [25590/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is an operational matter for SOLAS who manage the Apprenticeship System.

I understand from SOLAS that apprentices who do not successfully complete modular assessments on their first attempt are entitled to two repeat assessments. A modular assessment may therefore be taken up to three times.

Apprentices who fail a modular assessment for a third time will be deemed to have their apprenticeship automatically terminated in accordance with the 1997 Apprenticeship Rules, made under the Labour Services Act 1987.

Apprentices are afforded the opportunity to appeal for a fourth and final attempt. I understand that the individual in question made an application in October 2014 to the Apprenticeship Appeals Committee seeking approval to sit a fourth and final attempt. The Apprenticeship Appeals Committee granted him approval to sit a fourth and final attempt.

He sat the assessment in Carlow IT on the 10th December 2014. Unfortunately, he did not pass the assessment and Carlow IT is satisfied that the assessment was conducted in accordance with the Carlow IT assessment regulations and quality assurance requirements.

I am informed that he subsequently made an application in March 2015 to the Apprenticeship Appeals Committee appealing the fourth attempt assessment result. The Apprenticeship Appeals Committee rejected this most recent appeal.