Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 1

Written Answers. - Institutes of Technology.

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

The latest information available from the institutes of technology indicates that they are currently catering for 147 groups of apprentices and that it is expected to increase this provision to 152 groups in the third term of this academic year. Details are given in a table which will be included in the Official Report. A group, which normally consists of 16 apprentices, attends the institute for a term, which for most trades is ten or 11 weeks and there are three terms in the academic year. On this basis 152 groups would equate to an annual capacity of nearly 7,300 apprentice places. Details are not available in my Department of the actual numbers of apprentices attending the courses. However, I understand from the institutes that most groups operate to full capacity. In a small number of cases places may be vacant where apprentices are unable to attend for personal or other reasons.

The number of groups catered for by the institutes is subject to adjustment from term to term in the light of a range of factors, demand, availability of facilities and staff. My Department is working closely with the institutes to increase capacity as a matter of urgency.

Apprenticeship Provision in Institutes of Technology

(incl. Dublin Institute of Technology)

Scheduling of Modules 4 and 6, Term 3 of Academic Year 1999-2000

Skill/Trade Area	Institute	Number ofgroups inTerm 3
Brickwork	D.I.T.	2
	Limerick	1
	Cork	2
	Waterford	2
Plasterwork	D.I.T.	1
	Cork	1
Carpentry	D.I.T.	4
	Cork	6
	Limerick	2
	Dundalk	2
	Tralee	2
	Sligo	6
	Dun Laoghaire VEC	3
Cabinet Making	D.I.T.	1
	Cork	2
Electrical	D.I.T.	11
	Cork	7
	Limerick	6
	Galway	4
	Dundalk	4
	Waterford	4
Instrumentation	Carlow	2
	Cork	0
Sheetmetal	D.I.T.	2
Motor Mechanic	D.I.T.	2
	Athlone	1
	Cork	2
	Limerick	2
	Galway	2
	Dundalk	1
	Waterford	2
	Mallow VEC	1
Plumber	D.I.T	6
	Cork	6
Agri/Mechanic	Tralee	2
Construction PlantFitter	D.I.T.	2
	Cork	1
Vehicle Body Building	D.I.T.	2
Heavy VehicleMechanic	D.I.T.	1
	Cork	2
Metal Fabrication	D.I.T.	2
	Cork	7
Skill/Trade Area	Institute	Number ofgroups inTerm 3
Aircraft Mechanic	D.I.T.	5
Book Binder	D.I.T.	1
Fitter	D.I.T.	3
	Cork	3
	Limerick	3
	Waterford	3
Originator	D.I.T.	1
Painter Decorator	D.I.T.	2
	Cork	2
Printer	D.I.T.	1
Refrigeration	D.I.T.	1
Toolmaker	D.I.T.	1
	Sligo	4
Wood Machinist	D.I.T.	1
Overall Total		152