Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2015
197. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the supports in place to assist the technical and skills training, for example, boning and so on, of operatives in meat factories; if she will examine the establishment of an apprenticeship scheme in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26661/15]
View answerIt is considered international best practice for training in meat processing skills to be industry led and based in the workplace. Skillnets, the State funded industry-led training facilitator, includes two networks who provide training for Meat Industry Operatives - the Taste4Success Skillnet and Food and Drink Industry Ireland Skillnet. The Taste4Success Skillnet have delivered courses specifically for operatives in the meat industry, including an intensive 20 week course in Food Industry Skills: General Knife Skills; Food Industry Award in Beef and Pork Butchery Skills – FDQ/EQF – Level 3 Award; Operative skills – various operative skills; Supervisor Skills – Beef and Pork Butchery.
During 2015 they plan to deliver further knife and technical skills at various levels for member companies and Job Seekers looking to get into the sector. Food and Drink Industry Ireland (FDII) Skillnet has invested a significant amount of time around the development of a traineeship programme for knifing and boning skills. The key companies they have been working with are ABP, Kepak and Dawn Meats. There are certain elements of the programme that remain to be finalised, however it has not been possible to progress as the companies have not committed the requisite experienced knifers and deboners to deliver the training on-site. With regard to the question of apprenticeships in this area, it should be noted that, by its nature, apprenticeship is an employer-led initiative. Following on from the recent Review of Apprenticeship in Ireland, a new Apprenticeship Council was appointed by me in November 2014. The Council is made up of a wide variety of stakeholders and is industry-led. In January 2015, the Apprenticeship Council formally invited proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers. Over 80 separate proposals were received by the deadline of end March. These proposals have been evaluated by the Council and recommendations have, this week, been received by my Department for consideration. No proposal was received to develop a new apprenticeship for operatives in the meat processing industry.
