Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - FÁS Training Programmes.

Paul McGrath

Question:

178 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rates paid by FÁS to first, second and third year apprentice workers for each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1084/03]

Paul Connaughton

Question:

182 Mr. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason FÁS apprentices had their allowances severely curtailed when they went back for their 11 week college period as part of their overall apprenticeship course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1303/03]

Mary Upton

Question:

188 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will investigate a matter (details supplied) which leaves apprentices much worse off when they enter training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1484/03]

Phil Hogan

Question:

190 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will indicate the reduction in grant assistance for persons on apprenticeships that are administrated by FÁS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1738/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 182, 188 and 190 together.

The administration of training allowances for apprentices is a matter for FÁS who advise me as follows. FÁS introduced the standards based apprenticeship system in 1993 and put in place sufficient training places to meet the demands forecast at the time. In the period 1994 to 1996, registrations of apprentices continued to increase at a steady rate and FÁS responded in providing additional training places to meet these demands.

When supply and demand for training places are in balance and there are no unusual factors, an apprentice would attend for off-the-job training as follows: phase 2 in the first year, phase 4 in the second year and phase 6 in the third year. In this ideal system, the apprentice would be paid a training allowance corresponding to those years. From 1997-99, however, registrations of apprentices in all 26 trades increased dramatically and this led to a build-up of apprentice numbers with the result that in some trades apprentices experienced delays in progressing to the next phase when it became due. However, to aid apprentices who were delayed in the phased scheduling of their training courses, which arose during the period 1997-99, FÁS introduced an arrangement whereby these apprentices would be paid an allowance which was related to their year of apprenticeship at the time when the offer of training was made. In other words, an apprentice who should have been entering phase 4 of his-her training, but because of the delay due to over-demand in training capacity was obliged to enter phase 2, he-she would have been paid at the phase 4, next year, rate.

Over the past three years, FÁS, in co-operation with the institutes of technology, increased the training places to meet the demands on a planned basis. The stage has now been reached where capacity is no longer a problem and the need to pay the higher, so called "next year rate" is the exception. It was intended to place the onus on individual apprentices who were delayed in the phased scheduling of their training courses to make a case to FÁS for payment of the higher rate. However, it was soon recognised, that this would have given rise to a temporary reduction in the take home pay for many apprentices. Therefore, it was subsequently decided by FÁS to revert to the position adopted previously, that is that the higher rate would continue to be paid where the records held by FÁS indicated that the delay in the individual apprentices progress was caused by lack of training capacity. I am assured by FÁS that these arrangements are being implemented forthwith. I am also assured that any individual apprentice who clearly qualifies for the higher allowance will be paid accordingly.

The table sets out details of the training allowances paid to apprentices over the period 1 April 2000 to 1 April 2002.

Standards-Based Apprenticeship – Apprentice Gross Wage Norms: The gross wage norm is per week and the norm to be used will depend on the Industry in which the employer is engaged.

Gross wage norm	€
Motor industry:
Effective 9 April 2002:
Phase 2	150.50
Phase 4	225.73
Phase 6	338.61
4th Year	406.32
Effective 9th April 2001:
Phase 2	143.33
Phase 4	214.98
Phase 6	322.48
4th Year	386.50
Effective 3rd July 2000:
Phase 2	133.32
Phase 4	199.98
Phase 6	299.98
4th Year	359.53
Construction Industry:
Effective 1st July 2002:
Phase 2	193.44
Phase 4	290.55
Phase 6	435.63
4th Year	522.99
Effective 1st August 2001:
Phase 2	179.76
Phase 4	269.39
Phase 6	404.08
4th Year	484.80
Effective 1st July 2001:
Phase 2	167.38
Phase 4	251.07
Phase 6	375.86
4th Year	451.13
Effective 1st October 2000:
Phase 2	160.44
Phase 4	241.16
Phase 6	361.00
4th Year	433.30
Effective 1st September 1999:
Phase 2	132.19
Phase 4	198.29
Phase 6	297.44
4th Year	356.92
Electrical Apprentices:
Effective 1st April 2002:
Phase 2	184.08
Phase 4	276.51
Phase 6	398.97
4th Year	491.40
Effective 1st April 2001:
Phase 2	165.40
Phase 4	247.60
Phase 6	358.03
4th Year	440.73
Effective 1st April 2000:
Phase 2	146.39
Phase 4	219.59
Phase 6	317.18
4th Year	386.57
Printing and Paper:
Effective 1st May 2002:
Phase 2	115.14
Phase 4	172.74
Phase 6	259.10
4th Year	310.92
Effective 1st April 2001:
Phase 2	104.94
Phase 4	157.43
Phase 6	236.16
4th Year	283.38
Effective 1st May 2000:
Phase 2	102.89
Phase 4	154.35
Phase 6	231.52
4th Year	277.82

Gross wage norm	€
Engineering Industry:
Effective 1st April 2002:
Phase 2	157.48
Phase 4	236.31
Phase 6	350.53
4th Year	423.77
Effective 1st April 2001:
Phase 2	143.53
Phase 4	215.30
Phase 6	319.42
4th Year	385.97
Effective 3rd July 2000:
Phase 2	128.70
Phase 4	193.05
Phase 6	286.53
4th Year	346.17

Please note: All rates shown in euro, for comparison.