Vol. 415 No. 7
252 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Labour if he will give an assurance that, (1) the present education and training periods for apprentices will not be reduced, (2) the regional technical colleges will continue to provide the education programmes for apprentices and (3) apprentices will be released to attend the education programmes at the colleges during their years of apprenticeship.
FÁS have statutory responsibility for apprenticeship. The board of FÁS have decided that the new system of apprenticeship as agreed in section (v) of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress will be introduced this year.
I understand from FÁS that the matters to which the Deputy has referred will be considered by the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee which was set up by FÁS to advise them in the development of the new system of apprenticeship. The National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee includes representatives of the Social Partners and the Department of Education.
