Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Apr 1990

Vol. 397 No. 9

Written Answers. - Hairdressing Apprenticeship System.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Labour if recognised apprenticeships are available in respect of persons wishing to participate in the hairdressing profession; if any certification is available to the apprentice at the end of a course; if European legislation exists with regard to apprenticeships in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Labour (Mr. B. Ahern)

A Joint Labour Committee (JLC) was set up in 1964 to cover hairdressing in Dublin city and county, the Borough of Dún Laoghaire and the urban district of Bray and in 1977 a JLC was set up to cover Cork city. Under the employment regulation orders (EROs) made by both committees, there is a provision for a four-year hairdressing apprenticeship. The EROs lay down minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for apprentice hairdressers.

An employer who wishes to employ an apprentice hairdresser in the Dublin and Cork areas must apply to the relevant hairdressing joint labour committee to register the worker — apprentices in the remainder of the country are not registered. A certificate of registration will them be issued to the employee. On completion of the four-year apprenticeship, the certificate of registration is signed by the employer and the JLC will certify the completion of the apprenticeship. However, employers are not obliged to return registration cards to the JLC for certification when the apprenticeship is completed.

Hairdressing is not a designated industry for the purposes of the Industrial Training Act, 1967, and as such FÁS do not register hairdressing apprentices. FÁS operate hairdressing training programmes of 26 weeks' duration. Trainees complete a test at the end of the programme and a FÁS certificate is issued based on the trainee's performance. Some trainees enter for City and Guilds examinations.

Apprenticeships are not governed by EC legislation. However, there are on-going discussions on the mutual recognition of vocational training qualifications within the EC.

The Deputy will be aware that FÁS currently have under review the whole approach to apprenticeship training in general. A discussion document was issued in December 1989, which recommended significant changes in the apprenticeship system, including the introduction of a standards based system with qualifications being required to achieve recognition. The needs of the hairdressing area will be kept in mind by FÁS in their review.