John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of colleges providing courses for apprentice mechanics; if all colleges charge the apprentices for courses provided or if there are different rates applied depending on the college; if his Department pays the colleges for any aspect of such courses; the way in which the delivery of such courses is monitored relative to standards expected by his Department; if the colleges or his Department have agreed a fee whereby students request a review of examination results; if so, the amount charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10959/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Apprenticeship is a blended alternance training programme, with the off the job training element of apprentice mechanics courses delivered by Education and Training Board (ETB) training centres and Institutes of Technology (IoTs).

Students are not charged a fee for participating in phase 2 of apprentice mechanic courses, which are delivered in ETB training centres.  Phase 4 and phase 6 of these mechanic courses are delivered by IoTs.  The Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all students attending IoTs and the amount due by apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in IoTs during the academic year. This is typically one third of the ASC paid by students attending for the full academic year and amounts to €1,000.  SOLAS fund ETBs for phase 2 training and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) fund provision in the IoTs.

IoTs and ETBs are independently validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) as appropriate providers of education and training programmes and as such are required to comply with QQI quality assurance requirements.  However, as the co-ordinator of craft apprenticeships, SOLAS, in accordance with QQI quality assurance requirements, conducts independent external verification of craft apprenticeship assessment activities conducted by collaborating providers, on a sample basis.  In addition, SOLAS Authorised Officers attend IoTs Results Approval Board meetings to ensure compliance with the SOLAS marking requirements. With the implementation of the recently QQI validated new version 4 curricula for craft apprenticeships SOLAS has developed a revised Memorandum of Understanding for collaborating providers, in accordance with QQI requirements, which will extend the scope of the existing monitoring arrangements.

I understand that no fee is charged to review examination results, however, in the event of a formal appeal, normally following such a review, a fee is set by each institution which is refunded should the appeal be upheld.