Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2009
115 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will introduce additional measures to support redundant apprentices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12931/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and FÁS have been monitoring the trends in apprenticeship on an ongoing basis. A number of measures have been initiated or taken to date to assist apprentices who have become redundant to progress their apprenticeship. Over 2,700 places have been provided, are currently being provided or have been put in place for future provision under these measures. These include:
The scheduling rules for off-the-job training have been amended to permit redundant apprentices to progress to their next off-the-job phase, at phase 2, phase 4 and phase 6. This change has permitted 428 apprentices to attend phase 4 and phase 6 off-the-job training in 2008. To date in 2009 398 apprentices have attended phase 4 and phase 6. An estimated 700 redundant apprentices will commence phase 4 and phase 6 training in the Institutes of Technology on the 6th April 2009.
In relation to phase 2,191 redundant apprentices have completed their training to date, and 115 are currently attending phase 2 training. An additional 47 redundant apprentices will be scheduled for phase 2 training in the next number of weeks.
The Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme became operational in January 2009. It provides up to 500 places this year for redundant apprentices to be placed with employers who have released their employed apprentice for off-the-job training. The number of redundant apprentices who are currently placed with employers is 98 and 7 have completed their training phase to date. FÁS is currently processing 24 applications from employers to participate in the scheme. · FÁS and ESB Networks have agreed the placement on a phased basis of 400 redundant electrical apprentices over the period 2009/10 to allow them to complete their on-the-job training and assessments. The first group of phase 7 apprentices commenced their placement with the ESB on the 23rd March last.
Leargas — the National Agency in Ireland for the management of national and international exchange and cooperation programmes in education, youth and community work, and vocational education and training — has also provided funding towards the cost of placing redundant phase 7 apprentices with employers in Germany. A group of 20 such apprentices are currently there completing their phase 7 training. FÁS has submitted a further proposal to Léargas to accommodate an additional 50 apprentices under this programme.
I will continue to work with all stakeholders in an effort to ensure that redundant apprentices will have opportunities to complete their apprenticeship and gain a craft qualification. In this endeavour I am open to positive suggestions from all quarters.
116 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the take-up of the new scheme by which employers are paid to take on redundant apprentices; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12932/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme was launched in December 2008. It supports opportunities for up to 500 redundant apprentices to complete phases 5 and 7 on-the-job training and assessments with eligible employers during 2009. The apprenticeships covered by the scheme are those in the construction trades of bricklaying, carpentry & joinery, electrical, and plastering. There are currently 98 apprentices on the scheme and a further 24 applications are being processed. Seven apprentices have already completed a period of employment under the scheme. Projected costs to date amount to €717,080.
