Vol. 477 No. 6
44 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health if sufficient funding will be found to allow the continuation of the fitting and turning course at Ashtown National Training and Development Institute, Ashtown, Dublin 15, in view of the fact that this centre is the only one offering the fitting and turning course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10053/97]
Limerick East): Training for people with disabilities is part of the Operational Programme for Human Resources 1994 to 1999 (OP). Training agencies including the National Training and Development Institute receive European Social Funds in respect of their vocational training operations for people with a disability.
The National Training and Development Institute (NTDI) is a subsidiary of the Rehab Group. The Rehab Group which is a private company, has, I understand, taken a decision to close down its training centre at Ashtown, Dublin 15.
However, NTDI does not intend to discontinue all aspects of apprenticeship training and in this regard plans to transfer its Apprenticeship Foundation and metal fabrication courses to its Tallaght centre and the material handling and carpentry-joinery courses to its Ballyfermot centre. There are currently four trainees on fitting apprenticeship in Ashtown under the old time served apprenticeship system. NTDI has undertaken to support these trainees through the completion of their apprenticeship and the parents of the four trainees are being invited to a meeting with NTDI today to discuss the proposed arrangements.
Outside of the OP under the new FÁS standards based apprenticeship provision has been made for persons with disabilities who meet entry requirements to undertake on-job-training with employers and off-job-training in FÁS designated training centres. The Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities, A Strategy for Equality, recommended mainstreaming of training for people with disabilities. In this regard, Partnership 2000 has a commitment for the reservation of 1,000 training places for people with disabilities on existing mainstream training courses.
