Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 5

Written Answers. - Apprenticeship Training.

Nora Owen

Question:

77 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the problem relating to apprentices getting phase 4 and 6 education has been resolved in view of the need for more skilled workers. [12165/00]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 77 together.

The number of new apprentices registered has increased by 90% from 3,597 in 1995-96 to 6,832 in the last academic year, with the result that there are currently in excess of 21,000 apprentices registered. The demand for training places for these apprentices has increased accordingly. The Department of Education and Science has increased the number of phase 4 and phase 6 training places by 80% since the 1997-98 academic year to 7,200 in the current academic year.

A major capital investment programme to provide additional phase 4 and phase 6 capacity is in train. Extra staff have been sanctioned and additional funding is being provided to meet the cost of additional courses. It is expected that training will be provided for an additional 1,300 apprentices in the next academic year. The Department of Education and Science is also liaising with the institutes of technology with a view to providing training for a minimum of 700 apprentices during the summer.

These measures will improve the situation with regard to the bottlenecks at phases four and six of apprenticeship training. However, given the continuing increase in demand for apprenticeship training, the national apprenticeship advisory committee which operates under the aegis of FÁS and includes representatives of my Department, the Department of Education and Science and the social partners will continue to work to ensure that adequate levels of training provision are available to meet this demand.