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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - Third Level Craft Education.

Edward Nealon

Question:

197 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in view of changes which are occurring under the current rationalisation of craft education for third level colleges, Sligo regional technical college may have to send tool making apprentices to another college which has been in tool making education only in a limited way in recent years; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that Sligo Regional Technical College has more than adequate capacity to accommodate all tool making apprentices in view of the fact that the tool making industry in Ireland is very small by international standards and is also very expensive to resource in view of the need to keep equipment and training up to date with modern technology, that there is a high concentration of tool making in the Sligo region and that splitting resources and supporting the programme for tool making education in two centres does not make economic sense; if she will ensure that all tool making apprentices be located at Sligo Regional Technical College in view of that college's history of investment and concentration of specialised staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7133/96]

Sligo regional technical college and the Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street have the staffing and the specialist physical facilities and equipment for providing training to toolmaking apprentices.

UnderProgramme for Economic and Social Progress and the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997 it was agreed that the statutory apprenticeship scheme would be improved by developing a “standards-based” rather than a “time-served” approach. A new apprenticeship training model, comprising four on-the-job training modules and three off-the-job training modules, was developed.
The new apprenticeship system is being implemented on a phased basis and will result in the rationalisation of craft apprenticeship programmes. It is being implemented in the most effective and efficient way and specialist facilities for apprenticeship training in institutions will continue to be utilised as fully as possible with the minimum amount of disruption in the regional technical college-DIT sector.
An interdepartmental working group representative of the Department of Enterprise and Employment, FÁS, the Regional Technical Colleges-DIT and the Department of Education agreed on the basic operational principles underlying the arrangements between FÁS and the Colleges for the delivery of the off-the-job training of apprentices.
In finalising the rationalisation of apprenticeship off-the-job training programmes my Department will take into account the provision for toolmaking apprentices currently in the two institutions.
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