Vol. 476 No. 1
37 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will introduce minimum qualifications for panel beaters undertaking repairs to motor vehicles damaged in road accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5313/97]
There are no plans at present to introduce minimum standards specifically for panel beaters undertaking repairs to motor vehicles.
The occupation of vehicle body repairer, which is more extensive in scope than that of panel beater, was formally designated by FÁS as an apprenticeship trade in September 1993, under the standards-based apprenticeship system. This system is administered by FÁS with the assistance of the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee, which is representative of employers, trade unions, the Department of Education, the Department of Enterprise and Employment and FÁS.
The award of the national craft certificate, a prerequisite to recognition as a craftworker, is dependent on the individual apprentice achieving predetermined standards which have been agreed with all sides concerned, in this case, with the activity of vehicle body repair. At present there are 247 apprentices pursuing the national craft certificate in vehicle body repair.
