Vol. 423 No. 4
189 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Labour if he will modify the eight week requirement under the Employment Subsidy Scheme in respect of apprentices to have completed one year off the job courses in order to facilitate their yearly placement with sponsoring employers.
The purpose of the employment subsidy scheme is to encourage employers to recruit additional employees from unemployed persons on the live register. Apprentices who satisfy the live register qualification are eligible under the scheme. I have, however, no plans to alter the live register qualification.
Under the new apprenticeship system which will come into operation next year, off-the-job wages/allowances of apprentices will be paid from the fund which will be established for employer contributions to part finance the cost of apprenticeship. This will assist employers in meeting their costs of providing apprenticeship places.
