Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Mar 2000

Vol. 517 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Apprentice Programmes.

Dr. Upton

I welcome the opportunity to raise this matter on the Adjournment this evening. In early February this year, the problem of apprentices being unable to complete their training was first flagged through freedom of information documents obtained by The Irish Times. Phases 4 and 6 of apprenticeship training is carried out in institutes of technology throughout the country and in the Dublin Institute of Technology. Approximately 2,000 apprentices are currently awaiting a place to complete their training because of a shortage of places in third level col leges. Various factors, including lack of teaching staff and the cost of apprenticeship courses, have been identified among the reasons for the current logjam. I understand that the Minister is now tackling these two areas but even taking account of the proposed solution, they continue to be a problem.

Newspaper reports within the past two days suggest that FÁS might undertake a role which until now has been undertaken by the institutes. Such a process would not solve the fundamental problem. The standard based apprenticeship system, which replaced the time-served model in 1993, is designed so that the apprentices have an opportunity to attend a third level college. Currently, institutes of technology have annual capacity for approximately 7,200 apprentices. The Minister for Education and Science, in a reply to a parliamentary question, indicated that his Department is working closely with the institutes to increase capacity. I would like to know from the Minister if there has been a change in the role of the institutes of technology over the years in regard to support for trade courses and if there are proportionately fewer places for apprentices than previously existed.

Access to third level education is one of the three main aims of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999. A second aim is that students should be enabled to transfer easily between courses. It is for these two reasons that it would be undesirable to move apprenticeship education from the institutes of technology. Currently, a number of apprentices transfer to technical courses, a transfer which is facilitated by their education in phases 4 and 6 of their apprenticeship.

I ask the Minister to consider three important points in relation to the current crisis in apprenticeship training. First, there is a need for institutes of technology to review their commitment to apprenticeship education in the longer term. Second, to overcome the current crisis, some additional innovative suggestions should be brought forward to ensue that the apprentices can complete their programme as set out for them at the commencement of their training and within the timeframe agreed. Third, in the longer term, a complete review of skills shortages for each of the apprenticeships is needed so that a similar crisis will be avoided over the next few years.

The current shortage of apprentice places needs to be addressed in a wider context of availability of third level places, overall career guidance and future direction of third level education and training.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Mr. Treacy)

Tá mé lán tsásta freagra oifigiúil a thabhairt ar an rún tábhachtach seo agus eolas cruinn beacht a chur faoi bhráid na Dála.

I am grateful to have an opportunity to respond to the issue raised by the Deputy and to clarify the position regarding the Department of Education and Science's provision for the education and training of apprentices in institutes of technology.

The standards-based apprenticeship system, which is currently in place, was introduced in 1993 following extensive consultations between the social partners and various other interested parties. It replaced the old time-served model and is based on the attainment by the apprentices of industry agreed standards. The system consists of seven training modules, known as phases, over a minimum period of four years. Phases 1, 3, 5 and 7 involve on-the-job training with the employer. Phases 2, 4 and 6 are delivered off the job. Phase 2 takes place in a FÁS training centre and phases 4 and 6 take place mainly in institutes of technology, to which Deputy Upton has alluded.

As a result of increased economic activity and a dramatic growth in the construction industry, there has been a significant and unforeseen expansion in the number of apprentices being recruited by employers in the past few years. Apprentice registrations by FÁS were 4,734 in the 1996-97 academic year. The number rose to 6,070 places in 1997-98 and to 6,832 positions in 1998-99. The total number of apprentices in the system is now just over 21,000 young people.

The exceptional level of recruitment has placed unprecedented demands on the system and it is difficult to expand capacity fast enough to keep up with the demand. As a result, serious problems are now being encountered as the institutes of technology attempt to develop the physical capacity needed to cater for the apprentices who are now due to attend phases 4 and 6 in the institutes. The problem is most acute in certain high growth trades such as carpentry and joinery, electrical, brickwork, plumbing, cabinet making and heavy vehicle mechanics.

When the increase in numbers became apparent, the Department of Education and Science initiated discussions with the institutes of technology involved about increasing capacity to meet demand. Following a review of the needs and discussions with the institutes in 1998, the Department initiated a multi-million pound capital building programme to provide extra workshop capacity as needed. The objective of this investment is to provide the physical infrastructure as a matter of urgency, but new buildings take some time to plan and deliver. Much of this extra provision, therefore, has yet to come on-stream.

In the meantime, the Department of Education and Science has supported the institutes of technology in their efforts to provide extra courses where this has been possible. Extra staff has been sanctioned and other resources have been made available when required. For instance, in the 1998 and 1999 financial years, the Department provided the institutes of technology with a total of £6 million of extra funding specifically to assist with the cost of providing additional apprentice programmes. This was in addition to the funding for apprentices provision already contained in the institutes of technology core budgets.

Again this year, a further £5 million is being added to the funding provided, in addition to the amount of money made available last year, for the apprentice training in the institutes of technology. These figures confirm the Government's absolute commitment to supporting the further expansion of the apprentice programmes in the institutes of technology, where possible.

As a result of the measures taken to date, the total number of apprentices catered for in the education system has been increased from about 4,000 places in 1997-98 to about 6,700 places in 1998-99 and to some 7,200 positions in the current academic year. It is noteworthy that the projected demand as agreed by the social partners in 1996 was about 5,000 apprentice places.

The estimated shortfall in provision for the 1999-2000 academic year is about 185 groups, which approximates to 2,960 apprentices. In an effort to address this shortfall, the Department of Education and Science is expanding capacity as fast as is physically possible in a number of centres throughout the country such as Dundalk, Athlone, Carlow, Cork and Sligo. The possibility of providing extra places at Grangegorman, which is being purchased for the Dublin Institute of Technology and for which we have provided capital recently is also being urgently considered. Other options are also being actively pursued in relation to the Dublin region, which is experiencing the most serious shortfall.

At this stage I can confirm that the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, is planning to increase capacity to provide training for an extra 1,300 apprentices at the institutes of technology from September next. This will bring the total capacity to 8,500 apprentices. In addition, the Department is liaising with the institutes of technology to put in place the necessary arrangements to provide a minimum of 500 apprentices during the summer.

I understand that the TUI has no objection in principle to the idea of a summer course and while it may wish to set down certain conditions in relation to the running of the courses, these should not present a problem. The summer course has the potential to provide up to 90 extra apprentice groups, or some 500 places. Of course, the success of this initiative will depend on the willingness of the lecturers to work over the summer period. The Department of Education and Science is now liaising with the institutes of technology, with a view to putting the necessary arrangements in place.

In conclusion, the Minister for Education and Science is doing everything possible, in co-operation with the institutes, to meet the increased demand for apprentice training places. He wishes to assure the Deputy, the House and the public that the required resources are available and that the extra capacity required in the institutes of technology will be put in place as soon as the necessary planning and other arrangements can be completed.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 30 March 2000.